People who nap for more than 30 minutes per day have a 90% increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (a-fib), a common heart rhythm disorder, compared to those who nap for less time.
This was according to a study presented at a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Malaga, Spain.
About the Study
Researchers at Juan Ramon Jimenez University Hospital in Huelva, Spain, tracked over 20,000 Spanish university graduates for the study.
Participants were divided into three groups: those who did not nap, those who napped less than 30 minutes, and those who napped for 30 minutes or more daily.
Over an average follow-up of almost 14 years, 131 participants developed a-fib.
Results
The analysis revealed that participants who napped longer had nearly double the risk of developing a-fib compared to those who took short naps.
Participants who did not nap had no elevated a-fib risk compared to short-nappers.
In examining short-nappers more closely, researchers discovered that those who napped for fewer than 15 minutes had a 42% lower risk of developing a-fib, and those who napped between 15 and 30 minutes had a 56% reduced risk compared to long nappers.
“The results suggest that the optimal napping duration is 15 to 30 minutes,” said the study author, Dr. Jesus Diaz-Gutierrez.
Theories and Future Research
Dr. Diaz-Gutierrez suggested several potential reasons for the observed association between napping and health.
For example, long daytime naps might disrupt the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm), leading to shorter night-time sleep, more nocturnal awakening, and reduced physical activity.
On the other hand, short daytime napping may improve circadian rhythm, decrease blood pressure levels, and reduce stress.
However, he stressed the need for larger studies to further explore these findings and to determine whether a short nap is preferable to not napping at all.
Limitations
The study identified an association between nap duration and the risk of a-fib but could not establish a causal relationship.
Furthermore, the findings presented at the meeting should be considered preliminary until they are published in a peer-reviewed journal.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease, and coconut sugar could help reduce artery stiffness.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that Vitamin D deficiency can increase heart disease risk, and results showing vitamin B6 linked to lower death risk in heart disease.
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