Grabbing a quick nap in the afternoon might seem like the perfect midday reset, but a new study suggests that when and how long you sleep could signal deeper health concerns.
A study, presented at the Sleep 2025 conference, has found that irregular and prolonged daytime napping, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., may be associated with a higher risk of death among middle-aged and older adults.
The researchers analysed data from over 86,000 participants in the UK Biobank for eight years. All participants, with an average age of 63, wore actigraphy monitors for a week to track their sleep patterns, including nap duration, timing, and frequency.
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A total of 2,950 fatalities were recorded during the study period. Researchers found that those who died most commonly had long naps in the afternoon. Though the study did not establish a direct causal link, it suggests that irregular napping patterns may be early indicators of declining health.
According to the researchers, the association may be tied to preexisting health issues such as sleep disorders, metabolic problems, or early-stage dementia, all of which could cause fatigue and necessitate more frequent naps.
While short naps have previously been shown to offer health benefits like reduced blood pressure, previous researchers have linked excessive napping to increased risks of diabetes, dementia, and obesity.
