Long Naps Linked to Heart Problems, Premature Death

According to a new analysis by Chinese researchers, long naps lasting more than an hour are associated with a 34 percent greater risk of heart disease and a 30 percent greater risk of death. "If you want to take a siesta, our study indicates it's safest to keep it under an hour," lead researcher Zhe Pan of Guangzhou Medical University said in a news release. "For those of us not in the habit of a daytime slumber, there is no convincing evidence to start." Interestingly, long naps were linked with an increased risk of death in people who sleep more than six hours a night. As UPI notes, that would seem to rule out poor sleep as an explanation for the increased risk of death and heart health issues.