Most people know the feeling. Your energy starts to fade during the afternoon, concentration slips, and the idea of closing your eyes for a few minutes suddenly becomes very appealing. For many, a quick nap is seen as a harmless way to recharge.
But according to researchers from Harvard University, daytime sleeping habits may reveal far more about a person's health than previously believed.
The researchers tracked around 1,400 adults aged 56 and older over a period of nearly 20 years, examining how their daytime sleep patterns related to overall health and mortality, reports Unilad.
More than fatigue
The study found that people who spent more time napping during the day generally faced a higher risk of early death than those who rarely napped.
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Researchers also observed that individuals who took multiple naps throughout the day appeared to have a greater risk compared with participants who napped less frequently.
Importantly, the findings do not suggest that naps themselves are dangerous. Instead, scientists believe excessive daytime sleeping may be a sign of underlying health problems affecting sleep quality and overall wellbeing.
The timing matters
One of the study's most notable findings involved when participants chose to nap.
People who regularly slept during the morning hours showed the strongest association with increased mortality risk. Since most healthy adults are naturally more alert earlier in the day, unusual morning sleepiness may indicate disrupted sleep patterns or other medical issues.
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Researchers suggest that daytime sleep occurring outside typical afternoon hours could serve as an important clue about a person's health status.
A potential warning sign
Previous studies have already linked excessive daytime sleepiness to conditions including cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia.
The researchers argue that frequent daytime napping should not automatically cause concern. However, a growing need for naps, particularly at unusual times of the day, may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
Rather than being the cause of poor health, daytime naps could be acting as an early warning signal that something else is affecting the body
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This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.