People who nap during the day are more likely to develop high blood pressure and stroke, study finds

Snoozing during the day may not necessarily be unhealthy, but it could indicate poor sleep quality that may be linked to health risks, according to new research. Getty Images Frequent napping is linked to higher risk of stroke and high blood pressure, new research suggests. But naps may not be the problem.

People who nap tend to have other risk factors, like poor sleep at night.   A lack of sleep can wreak havoc on your health, including heart risk factors like cholesterol.   Frequent napping may be linked to higher risk of high blood pressure and stroke, according a large study published July 25 in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.

Researchers from Central South University in China looked at data from nearly 360,000 UK adults over about 11 years of follow-up to compare napping habits with blood pressure and stroke risk.  They found participants who routinely napped during the day had a 12% higher risk of developing high blood pressure, and a 24% higher risk of stroke, than their peers who never napped. Data also suggests that the risk would increase if participants who never napped did so occasionally, or if they went from napping sometimes to often.

 However, napping itself may not be unhealthy, but could indicate problems with overall sleep quality, according to  Michael A. Grandner, a sleep researcher and co-author of recent American Heart Association guidelines on sleep who was not involved with this study. “This may be because, although taking a nap itself is not harmful, many people who take naps may do so because of poor sleep at night.

Poor sleep at night is associated with poorer health, and naps are not enough to make up for that,” Grandner said in a press release.  Habitual nappers were more likely to report insomnia and consider themselves “evening people” than non-nappers, the study found. They were also more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and have lower education and income levels than people who napped less frequently or not at all.

 One limitation of the study is that researchers didn’t have information on how long the naps lasted, so it’s not clear if total time napping may be a factor. Participants also self-reported their naps, so researchers didn’t have objective data on the frequency or quality of the naps.  Whether you nap or not, getting enough sleep at night is an important factor in heart health, according to American Heart Association guidelines updated in June.

Most adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep, according to neuroscientists.  A lack of sleep is linked to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, previous research has found.  In contrast, sleeping well can keep your immune system healthy, boost mental health and focus, and improve your fitness.

 Getting enough sleep can even help you lose weight, a recent study found.  For better sleep, try exercising regularly, spending time in the sun during the day, and avoiding caffeine, a sleep scientist previously told Insider.  Read the original article on Insider.