Latest news with #SLEEP2025
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Teen anxiety and sleep: Why sleeping in on weekends helps, but only up to a point
For teenagers, sleep is often the first thing sacrificed in busy weekday schedules filled with school, homework, and screens. But new research suggests there may be a way to catch up—at least a little—without disrupting their mental well-being. A recent study led by Sojeong Kim , a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Oregon, offers fresh insight into the connection between weekend sleep and teen anxiety. The findings, presented at the SLEEP 2025 conference, reveal that moderate catch-up sleep on weekends—specifically less than two hours more than usual—can help lower anxiety symptoms in adolescents. But too much extra sleep, or none at all, might actually do more harm than good. A sleep 'sweet spot' for teen mental health The study analysed sleep data from 1,877 teens aged 12 to 15 across the United States. Researchers used Fitbit trackers to measure their sleep duration and used a standardised tool, the Child Behavior Checklist, to assess anxiety and emotional symptoms. The results showed a U-shaped pattern: teens who didn't get extra sleep on weekends, as well as those who overslept by more than two hours, had higher levels of anxiety. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Descoperă BMW X5 Legacy Limited Edition. Cu o rată fixă de 789€ + TVA/ lună şi costurile de întreţinere incluse. Vezi oferta Undo But those who managed to get just a bit more rest—between one and two hours—reported feeling calmer and more emotionally balanced. 'Too little or too much sleep variability from weekday to weekend may contribute to the symptoms someone is trying to combat, like mental fatigue and anxiety,' explained Kim in a press release. 'It's about finding the right balance.' Why aren't teens sleeping enough? According to the CDC, only 23% of high school students in the U.S. get the recommended 8–10 hours of sleep per night. Most teens average just six to seven hours—far below what their developing brains and bodies require. Experts point to a range of factors: late-night screen time, caffeine use, homework overload, and social commitments. But one of the biggest issues, says Dr. Wendy Troxel, senior behavioural scientist at the RAND Corporation, is early school start times. 'Our teens are biologically wired to fall asleep and wake up later, especially during puberty,' said Dr. Troxel, 'Asking them to function at 7 a.m. is like asking an adult to be alert at 4 in the morning. ' The danger of too much catch-up sleep Oversleeping on weekends—more than two hours past a teen's weekday wake-up time—can throw off their circadian rhythm. This leads to something called 'social jetlag,' where the body's sleep-wake cycle becomes desynchronised. The result? Struggling to fall asleep on Sunday night and dragging through Monday morning like you've flown across time zones. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, this inconsistency can affect focus, mood, decision-making, and long-term emotional health. What teens and parents can do This research doesn't mean teens shouldn't sleep in at all. Quite the opposite—moderate weekend rest appears to help reset the system after a week of sleep loss. But the key word here is moderate, which can be achieved by the following measures. Aim for consistency: Encourage a sleep routine that's roughly the same on weekends and weekdays—ideally within a 1–2 hour difference. Limit screen time at night: Blue light from phones and laptops interferes with melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep. Keep naps short: If teens are exhausted, short 20–30 minute naps are better than long ones that disrupt nighttime sleep. Rethink school schedules: Advocating for later school start times—as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics—could help address the root of chronic sleep deprivation. Why this research matters Sleep isn't just about feeling rested—it's directly tied to how teens think, feel, and behave. Chronic sleep loss has been linked to depression, anxiety, risk-taking behaviour, and even poor academic performance. 'This study highlights the importance of sleep for teens' mental well-being, but also shows that more isn't always better,' said Dr. Shelby Harris, a psychologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. 'It's not just about quantity—it's about rhythm and balance.' Letting teens catch up on sleep over the weekend—by up to two hours—can be a helpful and healthy habit. It can ease anxiety, restore energy, and offer some relief from the demands of busy school weeks. But overdoing it may lead to more stress and irregular sleep patterns Also Read: Health benefits of Vitamin B6 for your body and how to avoid deficiency
Economic Times
03-07-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
Napping too much after 60? New study links long afternoon snoozes to higher death risk
A recent study suggests excessive daytime naps could be risky for older adults. Researchers presented the findings at SLEEP 2025 in Seattle. Longer, irregular naps between 11 AM and 3 PM are linked to higher mortality. Experts advise short 'power naps' of 20-30 minutes. They also suggest that frequent napping may indicate underlying health issues. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Naps between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. were most risky Long naps might mean you're not sleeping well at night Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs A new study says that older adults who nap too much during the day may have a higher risk of death. This study was presented at SLEEP 2025, a big sleep science event in Seattle, Washington. The research looked at daytime naps , especially longer and irregular naps in the early afternoon, and found these were linked to a higher death risk over 8 years, as per the report by Fox News Gao, the study's lead author and a postdoc at Massachusetts General Hospital, said they wanted to understand more than just if people nap — but also how long, when, and how often. The study had 86,565 participants with an average age of 63. All had regular daytime jobs, as per people wore devices that tracked their movement during sleep. It didn't check brain activity though. Scientists defined daytime napping as sleep between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Over the next 8 years, 5,189 people (6%) from the study died, as stated in the report by Fox News who napped between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. or took longer naps had higher chances of dying during those 8 years. The study also adjusted for other death risk factors like age, weight, smoking, alcohol, and night sleep time. Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, a sleep expert from Wesper, New York, who wasn't part of the study, said naps are okay unless they're used to make up for bad night sleep, according to the report by Fox News also said adults need 7 to 9 hours of good sleep at night to stay healthy and avoid diseases like heart problems and diabetes. One issue with the study: it might have confused "quiet rest" with actual sleep, because the tracker only checks movement, not brain activity, as mentioned in the defining naps as between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. may have accidentally included some people's real sleep, not just naps. Too much daytime sleeping could be a sign of other health problems like chronic illness, body inflammation, or issues with the body's internal clock, as mentioned by Fox News Rohrscheib said if someone needs a nap every day, they probably have bad night sleep or an underlying health issue. Chenlu Gao said more studies are needed to find out whether naps directly cause health issues, or if they're just a sign of something Gao also said watching people's napping patterns could help spot health problems early and let doctors step in faster. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says healthy naps should be under 20 to 30 minutes, and taken early in the afternoon, according to the "power naps" can help you feel more awake and full of energy. But if you nap for more than 30 minutes, you might feel tired or dizzy after waking short, sleeping too much during the day after age 60 can be risky. The time, length, and how often you nap may show signs about your health, according to Fox News DigitalYes, a new study says too much daytime napping after age 60 may raise the risk of say naps should be 20–30 minutes and taken early in the afternoon.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Napping too much after 60? New study links long afternoon snoozes to higher death risk
A new study says that older adults who nap too much during the day may have a higher risk of death. This study was presented at SLEEP 2025, a big sleep science event in Seattle, Washington. The research looked at daytime naps, especially longer and irregular naps in the early afternoon, and found these were linked to a higher death risk over 8 years, as per the report by Fox News Digital. Chenlu Gao, the study's lead author and a postdoc at Massachusetts General Hospital, said they wanted to understand more than just if people nap — but also how long, when, and how often. The study had 86,565 participants with an average age of 63. All had regular daytime jobs, as per reports. Naps between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. were most risky These people wore devices that tracked their movement during sleep. It didn't check brain activity though. Scientists defined daytime napping as sleep between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Over the next 8 years, 5,189 people (6%) from the study died, as stated in the report by Fox News Digital. People who napped between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. or took longer naps had higher chances of dying during those 8 years. The study also adjusted for other death risk factors like age, weight, smoking, alcohol, and night sleep time. Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, a sleep expert from Wesper, New York, who wasn't part of the study, said naps are okay unless they're used to make up for bad night sleep, according to the report by Fox News Digital. Long naps might mean you're not sleeping well at night She also said adults need 7 to 9 hours of good sleep at night to stay healthy and avoid diseases like heart problems and diabetes. One issue with the study: it might have confused "quiet rest" with actual sleep, because the tracker only checks movement, not brain activity, as mentioned in the reports. Live Events Also, defining naps as between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. may have accidentally included some people's real sleep, not just naps. Too much daytime sleeping could be a sign of other health problems like chronic illness, body inflammation, or issues with the body's internal clock, as mentioned by Fox News Digital. ALSO READ : Michael Madsen, iconic 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Kill Bill' actor, dies at 67 Dr. Rohrscheib said if someone needs a nap every day, they probably have bad night sleep or an underlying health issue. Chenlu Gao said more studies are needed to find out whether naps directly cause health issues, or if they're just a sign of something else. But Gao also said watching people's napping patterns could help spot health problems early and let doctors step in faster. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says healthy naps should be under 20 to 30 minutes, and taken early in the afternoon, according to the reports. Short "power naps" can help you feel more awake and full of energy. But if you nap for more than 30 minutes, you might feel tired or dizzy after waking up. In short, sleeping too much during the day after age 60 can be risky. The time, length, and how often you nap may show signs about your health, according to Fox News Digital FAQs Q1. Is it dangerous for older adults to nap a lot during the day? Yes, a new study says too much daytime napping after age 60 may raise the risk of death. Q2. How long should a healthy nap be? Experts say naps should be 20–30 minutes and taken early in the afternoon.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Afternoon napping could have surprising impact on longevity, study suggests
A new study linking daytime napping to increased mortality rates in older adults may have some rethinking that midday snooze. The study, presented last month at SLEEP 2025, the 39th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Seattle, Washington, found that frequent, longer and irregular daytime naps — especially in the early afternoon — were linked to a higher risk of death over an eight-year period. "Our study fills a gap in knowledge," lead author Chenlu Gao, a postdoctoral research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, told Fox News Digital. Study Reveals Exercising Every Day May Not Be Necessary: 'Better Than None' The research shows "not just whether someone naps, but how long, how variable, and when they nap during the day may be meaningful indicators of future health risk," he said. The study included 86,565 participants averaging 63 years of age — all of whom worked regular daytime schedules — who were monitored by actigraphy, which detects movement during sleep but not brain activity. Read On The Fox News App Scientists defined daytime napping as sleeping between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. After the initial study, researchers kept tabs on the participants for eight years and discovered that 5,189 (6.0%) of them died during that time period. Most Americans Hit The Snooze Button Every Morning — Here's Why It Could Be Bad For Your Health The research showed that taking longer naps — and napping between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. or between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. — was associated with a higher mortality rate. Results were adjusted for other potential factors influencing mortality, like demographics, weight, smoking, alcohol consumption and nighttime sleep duration, the researchers stated. "Naps are not necessarily problematic unless they are used to compensate for chronically poor sleep at night," Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, a neuroscientist and sleep specialist at Wesper in New York, told Fox News Digital. "Getting seven to nine hours of good quality sleep is required to maintain health and reduce the risk of developing dangerous medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes," added Rohrscheib, who was not involved in the study. The study did not establish proof that naps directly affect the risk of death. "These are associations," Gao told Fox News Digital. "We cannot conclude from this study whether napping causes poor health." Most Sleep-deprived Cities In Us Revealed In Report: Where Does Yours Rank? In another potential limitation, because the study relied on detecting movement but not brain activity, "quiet wakefulness" may have been misclassified as sleep. Additionally, defining daytime napping as sleep between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. could have mistakenly included participants' actual sleep, affecting the accuracy of what would count as a nap, the researchers stated. Excessive napping could also be a marker of other health issues, such as chronic disease, systemic inflammation, or disruptions to circadian rhythms, which may themselves increase mortality risk. "Someone who requires daily naps to get through the day is likely not getting sufficient sleep during the night, or has an underlying health condition that causes daytime sleepiness," Rohrscheib noted. Gao added, "We need more research to understand the causal relationships before we can conclude that a certain type of napping pattern would benefit health." "However, we suggest that monitoring napping patterns might help us identify health conditions early, so that we can implement interventions accordingly." The American Academy of Sleep Medicine encourages healthy adults to limit naps to no longer than 20 to 30 minutes in the early afternoon. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter While a brief "power nap" can improve daytime alertness and performance, naps of 30 minutes or longer may cause a person to feel groggy after waking up. This grogginess, or "sleep inertia," can delay the short-term benefits of a nap, experts say. For more Health articles, visit Overall, the findings suggest that when it comes to mid-day snoozing, moderation is key — and that napping patterns could be a window into broader health concerns worth discussing with a medical article source: Afternoon napping could have surprising impact on longevity, study suggests
Fox News
01-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Afternoon napping could have surprising impact on longevity, study suggests
A new study linking daytime napping to increased mortality rates in older adults may have some rethinking that midday snooze. The study, presented last month at SLEEP 2025, the 39th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Seattle, Washington, found that frequent, longer and irregular daytime naps — especially in the early afternoon — were linked to a higher risk of death over an eight-year period. "Our study fills a gap in knowledge," lead author Chenlu Gao, a postdoctoral research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, told Fox News Digital. The research shows "not just whether someone naps, but how long, how variable, and when they nap during the day may be meaningful indicators of future health risk," he said. The study included 86,565 participants averaging 63 years of age — all of whom worked regular daytime schedules — who were monitored by actigraphy, which detects movement during sleep but not brain activity. Scientists defined daytime napping as sleeping between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. After the initial study, researchers kept tabs on the participants for eight years and discovered that 5,189 (6.0%) of them died during that time period. The research showed that taking longer naps — and napping between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. or between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. — was associated with a higher mortality rate. Results were adjusted for other potential factors influencing mortality, like demographics, weight, smoking, alcohol consumption and nighttime sleep duration, the researchers stated. "Naps are not necessarily problematic unless they are used to compensate for chronically poor sleep at night," Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, a neuroscientist and sleep specialist at Wesper in New York, told Fox News Digital. "Getting seven to nine hours of good quality sleep is required to maintain health and reduce the risk of developing dangerous medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes," added Rohrscheib, who was not involved in the study. "Naps are not necessarily problematic unless they are used to compensate for chronically poor sleep at night." The study did not establish proof that naps directly affect the risk of death. "These are associations," Gao told Fox News Digital. "We cannot conclude from this study whether napping causes poor health." In another potential limitation, because the study relied on detecting movement but not brain activity, "quiet wakefulness" may have been misclassified as sleep. Additionally, defining daytime napping as sleep between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. could have mistakenly included participants' actual sleep, affecting the accuracy of what would count as a nap, the researchers stated. Excessive napping could also be a marker of other health issues, such as chronic disease, systemic inflammation, or disruptions to circadian rhythms, which may themselves increase mortality risk. "Someone who requires daily naps to get through the day is likely not getting sufficient sleep during the night, or has an underlying health condition that causes daytime sleepiness," Rohrscheib noted. Gao added, "We need more research to understand the causal relationships before we can conclude that a certain type of napping pattern would benefit health." "However, we suggest that monitoring napping patterns might help us identify health conditions early, so that we can implement interventions accordingly." The American Academy of Sleep Medicine encourages healthy adults to limit naps to no longer than 20 to 30 minutes in the early afternoon. While a brief "power nap" can improve daytime alertness and performance, naps of 30 minutes or longer may cause a person to feel groggy after waking up. This grogginess, or "sleep inertia," can delay the short-term benefits of a nap, experts say. For more Health articles, visit Overall, the findings suggest that when it comes to mid-day snoozing, moderation is key — and that napping patterns could be a window into broader health concerns worth discussing with a medical provider.
