Society

Digestive activity, break from work, holidays for leisure or more nights, nap times remain firmly anchored in our traditions. And while naps help people who don't get enough sleep at night, they can also affect our cardiovascular health. Explanations.

Sleeping too much is associated with a risk of heart disease. According to a meta-analysis introduced during the annual congress of the European Association of Cardiology, covering around twenty studies and recording a total of 313,651 participants, a nap of 60 minutes or mor, beyond the hours devoted to nighttime sleep could be associated with "a 34% higher probability of cardiovascular disease, as well as a 30% increased risk of death from all causes combined," reports RTBF. On the other hand, these figures do not concern all people who sleep less than six hours per night. It has been shown by scientists that naps of less than 45 minutes could, on the contrary, be the cause of an improvement in cardiovascular health.

However, there remains a gray area around the reasons why long naps have a negative impact on our body. Various studies seem to explain the phenomenon by a higher rate of inflammation during naps, which can affect health and reduce longevity. "Other research has also established a link between naps and hypertension, diabetes and poor general physical health," concludes RTBF.

(MH with AsD - Source: RTBF - Illustration: Unsplash)