Are YOU a holiday snoozer? According to a Harvard study, it can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and diabetes

From free-flowing alcohol to endless food, we’re all guilty of overeating on vacation.

Now it seems that unless you sleep 30 minutes or less, siesta can be added to the list of unhealthy vacation habits.

Those who take longer siesta are more likely to be overweight, have high blood pressure and diabetes, according to a new study from Harvard.

The researchers examined data from 3,275 adults from the Spanish region of Murcia.

They collected details about their naps and other lifestyle factors, resulting in categories of no siesta, less than 30 minutes, and more than 30 minutes.

They found that people who took long naps had higher body mass index and were more likely to develop metabolic syndrome – a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity – than those who took short or no naps.

This increases the risk of coronary complications such as heart attack and stroke.

How spending LESS time in bed can beat insomnia

We all know how important good sleep is and how bad we feel after a series of bad nights.

However, those who took “power naps” showed no signs of increased risk, according to results published in the journal Obesity.

Researchers found that long siestas were associated with later dinner and bedtimes, higher mealtime caloric intake and smoking.

They admitted that it was not yet known whether the siesta itself was to blame, as a previous study of British patients found that obesity itself could cause naps.

According to the latest official estimates, around 59 per cent of women and almost 69 per cent of men in the UK are now overweight or obese.

More research is needed to examine whether a short siesta is more beneficial than a long one, especially for people with habits such as delayed meal and sleep schedules or smokers, they said.

Frank Scheer of Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital said: “This study demonstrates the importance of considering the length of siestas and raises the question of whether short naps may have unique benefits.

“Many facilities recognize the benefits of short naps, especially for worker productivity, but increasingly also for general health.

“If future studies continue to substantiate the benefits of shorter siestas, I think this could be the driving force behind the discovery of optimal sleep length and a cultural shift in recognizing the long-term health effects and productivity gains that can result from this lifestyle. ” .’