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Do you often see the elderly, after lunch then choose to lie down and take a nap, this "after eating" habit seems to become one of the daily life of many people, especially after the age, rest for a while seems to become a way to relieve fatigue and recuperate.
However, this seemingly harmless and common habit may not be as simple as we think, as a doctor who has worked in the hospital for many years, I often come into contact with some older patients, many of whom have the habit of taking a nap after meals.
While this may seem like a natural way to live, if the habits are overdone or not done in the right way, there may be some changes in the body that we didn't expect.
After eating, the gastrointestinal tract will begin to digest and absorb food, at this time a large amount of blood flows to the gastrointestinal tract for digestion and absorption, and if you lie down and rest immediately, the effect of gravity is weakened, and the digestive process of the gastrointestinal tract may be affected.
At the same time, as the gastrointestinal tract becomes more active, the digestive system becomes more burdened, and the redistribution of blood flow may also affect the function of other organs, especially the heart and vascular system.
So, what exactly is the effect of napping after meals on the body? Especially for the elderly, what are the adverse effects of long-term development of such habits on the body?
I've summarized here a few possible health changes that can happen quietly and lead to gradual damage to the body, and next, I will elaborate on these 4 major changes and help you understand the reasons behind these changes through some practical clinical cases.
The gastrointestinal tract may be "unbearable"
Many people think that lying down and resting after a meal helps digestion, but the opposite is true, resting immediately after a meal, especially after lying down, can affect the digestive function of the gastrointestinal tract.
Because food needs to be broken down into smaller particles in the stomach through the action of gastric acid and digestive juices, and then absorbed by the intestines, at this time, if you lie down, the stomach contents are easy to reflux into the esophagus, causing acid reflux, and may even aggravate gastroesophageal reflux disease.
I once met a 75-year-old woman who habitually lay down to rest after meals, and as a result, after half a year, she began to feel persistent symptoms of chest discomfort and acid reflux.
Upon examination, it was found that she had developed mild esophagitis. After analysis, the doctor pointed out that this was directly related to her habit of lying down immediately after eating, which led to the reflux of stomach acid, which irritated the esophagus, which in turn triggered inflammation.
Therefore, lie down and rest immediately after eating, the gastrointestinal tract not only can not bear such a burden, but also may cause a series of discomforts, especially the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux, the digestive system of the gastrointestinal tract needs time to gradually decompose and absorb food, if you do not rest properly at this time, it is easy to cause indigestion, stomach pain and other problems.
Fat accumulation
Taking a nap after a meal may seem like a relaxing way to rest, but in fact, staying still for a long time, especially taking a nap for too long, can lead to the accumulation of fat, because when the body is inactive, energy consumption is reduced, and the energy in food is easily converted into fat accumulation, especially in the abdomen and thighs.
I had a 65-year-old man in the hospital who had a long-standing habit of napping immediately after meals, and over time he gradually gained weight, especially in his abdomen, and developed significant fat accumulation.
He didn't particularly notice the change in his weight until a check-up revealed that his blood sugar, lipid and cholesterol levels were abnormally elevated.
After detailed inquiry, he realized that he maintained the habit of taking a nap after meals almost every day, and long-term physical inactivity reduced the body's metabolic rate, resulting in fat accumulation and metabolic disorders.
This kind of fat accumulation caused by napping, in addition to affecting the appearance, can also lead to more serious health problems, such as high blood sugar, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc., therefore, the elderly should try to avoid too long rest after meals, maintain appropriate activities, and help the body better consume the energy intake.
Metabolic disorders
Long-term napping after meals will actually affect the body's metabolic system, and the metabolism of blood sugar and fat will slow down when the body is inactive for a long time, resulting in the nutrients in the body cannot be consumed and metabolized in time.
As a result, there is too much energy storage, weight gain, and other nutrients and energy distribution become unbalanced, which can eventually lead to metabolic disorders and even metabolic diseases such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia.
I have a patient who is about 70 years old and has a habit of taking a nap after meals, and after a few months she starts to feel tired, fatigued, and gradually gains weight, and her blood sugar and blood lipids are found to be high.
After analysis, the doctor believed that it was the long-term bed rest that caused her metabolic problems, her insulin secretion gradually decreased, and the body was unable to effectively consume excess sugar in the body, which eventually led to the symptoms of prediabetes.
The proper functioning of metabolism is essential for older adults, and improper napping may lead to metabolic disorders and increase the risk of metabolic diseases.
The "invisible threat" to the cardiovascular system
Taking a nap after a meal, especially lying down immediately after a meal, can have a significant impact on the cardiovascular system, especially for people with a history of cardiovascular disease, sudden changes in rest posture and inactivity can increase the workload on the heart, and may even induce angina pectoris or heart attack.
I have a 70-year-old patient with a history of high blood pressure, who immediately lay down to rest after eating lunch for a long time, and after a few months, he began to have symptoms such as chest tightness and shortness of breath.
The doctor pointed out that his symptoms were closely related to excessive rest and inactivity after meals, and advised him to break this habit and take appropriate walks and exercises to help reduce the pressure on his heart.
For the elderly, the health of the cardiovascular system is very important, and long-term napping after meals may increase the burden on the heart, especially for people with a history of heart disease, it is an invisible health threat.
Napping after meals may seem harmless, but for the elderly, if it is excessive or inappropriate, it can lead to a variety of health problems, such as increased burden on the gastrointestinal tract, fat accumulation, metabolic disorders, and stress on the cardiovascular system, all of which may be the consequences of long-term napping after meals.
In order to maintain good health, it is recommended that the elderly do not lie down immediately after eating, but can take moderate rest, or choose some light activities to help promote digestion and metabolism and avoid unnecessary health problems.
The above content is for reference only, if you feel unwell, please consult a professional doctor in time
What do you think about napping after a meal? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!
Resources:
[1] Deng Qian, The mediating role of sleep duration and sleep quality between physical activity and cognitive function in rural elderly, Modern Preventive Medicine, 2024-04-10