July 1, 2025
Could Napping Too Much Be a Health Risk? New Study Says Maybe

A new study has found that frequent, long, and irregular naps—especially in the early afternoon—may be linked to a higher risk of death in older adults.

Presented at the SLEEP 2025 conference, the study followed over 86,000 people (average age: 63) for eight years. Participants who took longer naps between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. were more likely to die during the study period. Researchers adjusted for factors like age, weight, smoking, and nighttime sleep.

Lead author Chenlu Gao of Massachusetts General Hospital emphasized that the study shows patterns of napping—not just whether someone naps—could signal future health issues. However, he stressed the findings show association, not causation.

Sleep experts note that excessive napping might reflect poor nighttime sleep or underlying health conditions like heart disease or diabetes. And since the study measured movement rather than brain activity, quiet rest might’ve been mistaken for sleep.

The takeaway? A short nap isn’t bad—but relying on long, daily naps could signal something more serious. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends keeping naps to 20–30 minutes in the early afternoon.

As always, if you're feeling unusually tired during the day, it's worth talking to a healthcare provider. Your nap habits might be telling you more than you think.

Posted by Johnny Ice at 7:16 PM