(Cambridge, MA) – There are known benefits of napping, including increased energy and creativity, but a new report suggests they can also increase your risk of death. A major study out of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital has found that when you nap and how you nap are major factors. Fifteen to 30-minute power naps are ideal but sleeping longer than that, or an irregular basis between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m, is linked to a higher risk of mortality. Researchers say long naps can reflect underlying conditions, like depression or early degenerative changes, especially as we age.
Long nappers also tend to have higher blood pressure and body mass index which can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
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