Should daytime dozers worry? Japanese researchers say napping for more than an hour is linked to developing type 2 diabetes. But don't lose too much sleep over this. The long nap is probably not to blame, as it is usually a symptom of grossly disturbed or inadequate rest at night. The research found no link between nap time and increased obesity risk but my hunch is that existing obesity explains their findings. We know this makes diabetes more likely and raises the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea. This apnoea produces heavy snoring and gagging due to total or partial collapse of the upper airway - the "oropharynx", which naturally relaxes during sleep, but is compressed still further by the weight of fat around the neck.
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