HHS HealthBeat (February 22, 2008)

The risk on dozing off

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

People say they’re just resting their eyes. Before they know it, they’re asleep. But a study indicates it could mean trouble.

The study says constantly dozing off during the day can forewarn of an increased risk of a stroke among the elderly.  The study was presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2008.

Bernadette Boden-Albala of Columbia University Medical Center says people who more commonly dozed off had a four-and-a-half times greater risk of a stroke.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you should fear the nap, if napping is your remedy for drowsiness.

"There's no evidence that suggests that, if you feel like taking a nap, you shouldn’t take the nap.  Napping is not the risk.  The risk here, we believe, is the poor sleep." (9 seconds)

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: February, 22 2008