Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. It can reduce your risk of heart disease, support mental and emotional wellness, offer opportunities for socialization, and more. It can even help you sleep better! In fact, research suggests that a regular routine of physical activity can do much to reduce symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

We know that there are many benefits to a 15-minute power nap, but what happens when our napping becomes too frequent?

Recent research suggests that napping on a regular basis can be associated with a higher risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can also be at a heightened risk for heart conditions, drawing a parallel between OSA, sleep deprivation, and napping. OSA is a sleep condition that causes breathing to stop during sleep, often resulting in daytime sleepiness, snoring, and/or morning headaches. Typically, people with sleep apnea rely on napping to catch up on their rest, but as this study highlights, this may be a sign of a serious problem.

Insomnia plagues many Americans, but it has also been found that “painsomnia” affects many adults as well, considering around 25% of U.S. adults experience chronic pain. Painsomnia is a form of insomnia caused by chronic pain.

This can mean extremely poor quality sleep for those who experience both painsomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that causes disrupted breathing throughout the night, resulting in daytime sleepiness, and often snoring. Dealing with either of these conditions, or even both, can prove to be challenging.