Is Napping Dangerous?

For some people, the only way they’re able to get through the day without riding a wave of caffeinated beverages is by taking a nap. It seems pretty straightforward: if you’re tired in the middle of the day, a nap is a quick fix. However, according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, napping has been linked to higher mortality. So wait, does this mean that napping is actually dangerous? As with all things having to do with human health, it depends, and in today’s blog, we’re going to discuss whether or not it’s a good idea for you to be napping every day.

First of All…

Let us go ahead and let you off the hook: napping in itself is not dangerous or damaging to the human body. The reason napping can be easily linked to higher mortality, as it was in the study mentioned above, is because needing to nap is often a side effect of other, more serious problems, such as elevated stress, insomnia, sleep apnea, or any number of other sleep-disrupting conditions. Saying that napping causes a higher mortality rate is similar to saying that doctors cause heart disease: you’re more likely to visit the doctor if you have heart problems, but that doesn’t mean they caused it.

To Nap or Not to Nap

For most people, a brief midday nap (ranging from 15-90 minutes) is a positive thing. It allows them to recharge their willpower and even lower stress, and if this sounds like you, go ahead and enjoy your naps! For others, they end up waking up feeling worse than when they laid down. If this includes you, should you be concerned? The answer is an unsatisfying “maybe.”

Genetics plays a big part in how well someone responds to napping. Some are natural nappers, able to wake up feeling refreshed, and others aren’t. It’s really just that simple. However, something to keep in mind is that if you’re napping because you just can’t seem to get enough sleep, and napping doesn’t really help with that, then you should definitely be concerned. Not being able to get enough sleep is one of the primary symptoms of sleep apnea.

Common Sleep Apnea Signs

In addition to feeling chronically exhausted, other signs of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring
• Waking up gasping or out of breath
• Trouble focusing or remembering things
• Mood swings and depression

If you experience any of these symptoms in addition to not being able to get enough sleep, then you should definitely consult your doctor. This will help determine if you have sleep apnea and get you on the road to receiving treatment. If you do indeed have the disorder, all of your sleep troubles should basically go away once your sleep apnea is under control.

Conclusions

Basically, if it feels good to nap, do it! If it doesn’t, don’t! And, if you can’t seem to get enough sleep regardless, be sure to talk to your doctor. Up to 80% of all people with sleep apnea are either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and getting the attention you need could be a major win for not only your napping habits, but your overall health as well.

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a certified sleep dentist based in Melbourne, FL, and he has been providing safe and effective sleep apnea treatment for over 30 years. If you’ve been having sleeping problems for more than a few weeks, he’s happy to help you get sleep testing in Melbourne so you can get the answers you need. To learn more about sleep apnea and how it could be affecting you day to day, contact us today.