According to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s recent Annual Scientific Session, taking long naps or being excessively tired during the day is linked with a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and excess fat around the waist. The main thing to know about metabolic syndrome is that it increases your risk for heart disease.
The study found that subjects who napped for less than 40 minutes did not show any increased risk for metabolic syndrome, but for those who nap more than 40 minutes, the risk rose sharply. For people who reported that they nap for 90 minutes, the risk was increased by as much as 50 percent!
With heart disease being the number one cause of death in women, it’s important to do everything we can to reduce our risk. If you nap for more than 40 minutes at a time or consistently feel tired during the day, it’s a good idea to check your risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Talk to your doctor about monitoring your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. If you carry excess weight around your waist, talk with our registered dietician about reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. Your heart will thank you for it! The doctors at The Woman’s Clinic are here to help you through all stages of life.
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