Common daytime habit could be very serious red flag warning sign say scientists

Common daytime habit could be very serious red flag warning sign say scientistsScientists say their research involved tracking 1,300 people for 19 yearsCommentsNewsRobert Rowlands Deputy editor, money and lifestyle, content hub03:30, 21 Apr 2026View 2 Images(Image: Victor_69 via Getty Images)A common daytime habit that everyone likes to do from time to time could actually indicate a serious health issue. Excessive daytime dozing could signal potentially fatal underlying health problems in elderly people, new research suggests.‌Older people who regularly nod off - particularly during morning hours - face higher mortality risks than their peers, the study indicates. However, researchers say the discoveries present a chance to monitor medical conditions and prevent deterioration.‌US scientists tracked more than 1,300 elderly participants for up to 19 years, monitoring their sleeping patterns and corresponding death rates. The results, published in JAMA Network Open, revealed that extended, more regular, and morning naps were linked to increased mortality risks.‌Lead researcher Dr Chenlu Gao, from Mass General Brigham, Boston, explained: "Excessive napping later in life has been linked to neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases and even greater morbidity, but many of those findings rely on self-reported napping habits and leave out metrics like when and how regular those naps are."Our study is one of the first to show an association between objectively measured nap patterns and mortality and suggests there is immense clinical value in tracking napping patterns to catch health conditions early."View 2 ImagesSleeping in the day time is appealing - but it could be a warning sign‌Earlier research has revealed that between 20% and 60% of elderly people have daytime naps. While occasional rest can be beneficial, frequent daytime sleeping amongst older adults has been associated with numerous health concerns. Despite these associations, the link between nappi...