A new study published in the journal Sleep has found that napping during the middle of the day may be associated with an increased risk of death. Researchers analyzed data from 86,565 adults aged 43 to 79 who wore activity trackers for seven days. Over an 11-year follow-up period, 5,819 participants died.
The study identified three napping habits linked to higher mortality: longer naps, greater day-to-day variability in nap length, and naps taken around noon and early afternoon. These associations remained after adjusting for factors like body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking, and nighttime sleep duration.
Lead author Chenlu Gao, a postdoctoral research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital, said the study fills a gap by showing that not just whether someone naps, but how long, how variable, and when they nap may be meaningful indicators of future health risk. Previous studies relied on self-reported data, which can be biased.
However, the study does not prove that napping causes an increased risk of death. Sleep experts suggest underlying health issues, such as sleep apnea or heart disease, may explain the link. Alternatively, long, irregular midday naps could disrupt circadian rhythms, affecting inflammation, metabolism, and cardiovascular health.
For those who need to nap, experts recommend keeping naps under 30 minutes and napping earlier in the day to avoid interfering with nighttime sleep. If napping becomes more frequent or longer, consulting a doctor is advised.
