So your midday naps are good for you, but I bet your doctor won't be prescribing them.
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=155758&CultureCode=en
Midday naps are associated with reduced blood pressure levels and
prescription of fewer antihypertensive medications, according to
research presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Manolis Kallistratos, a
cardiologist at Asklepieion Voula General Hospital in Athens, Greece.1
“Although William Blake affirms that it is better to think in the
morning, act at noon, eat in the evening and sleep at night, noon sleep
seems to have beneficial effects,” said Dr Kallistratos. “Two
influential UK Prime Ministers were supporters of the midday nap.
Winston Churchill said that we must sleep sometime between lunch and
dinner while Margaret Thatcher didn’t want to be disturbed at around
3:00 pm. According to our study they were right because midday naps
seem to lower blood pressure levels and may probably also decrease the
number of required antihypertensive medications.”
He added: “Μidday sleep is a habit that nowadays is almost a
privileged due to a nine to five working culture and intense daily
routine. However the real question regarding this habit is: is it only a
custom or is it also beneficial?”
The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the effect of
midday sleep on blood pressure (BP) levels in hypertensive patients. The
study included 386 middle aged patients (200 men and 186 women, average
age 61.4 years) with arterial hypertension. The following measurements
were performed in all patients: midday sleep time (in minutes), office
BP, 24 hour ambulatory BP, pulse wave velocity,2 lifestyle habits, body
mass index (BMI) and a complete echocardiographic evaluation including
left atrial size.3 BP measurements were reported as diastolic and
systolic BP.4
After adjusting for other factors that could influence BP such as
age, gender, BMI, smoking status, salt, alcohol, exercise and coffee,
the researchers found that midday sleepers had 5% lower average 24 hour
ambulatory systolic BP (6 mmHg) compared to patients who did not sleep
at all midday. Their average systolic BP readings were 4% lower when
they were awake (5 mmHg) and 6% lower while they slept at night (7 mmHg)
than non-midday sleepers (Figure 1).
Dr Kallistratos said: “Although the mean BP decrease seems low, it
has to be mentioned that reductions as small as 2 mmHg in systolic blood
pressure can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by up to 10%.”
The researchers also found that in midday sleepers pulse wave
velocity levels were 11% lower and left atrium diameter was 5% smaller.
“These findings suggest that midday sleepers have less damage from high
blood pressure in their arteries and heart,” said Dr Kallistratos.
The duration of midday sleep was associated with the burden of
arterial hypertension. Patients who slept for 60 minutes midday had 4
mmHg lower average 24 hour systolic BP readings and a 2% higher dipping
status5 compared to patients who did not sleep midday. Dippers had an
average of 17 minutes more midday sleep than non-dippers.
Dr Kallistratos said: “Our study shows that not only is midday sleep
associated with lower blood pressure, but longer sleeps are even more
beneficial. Midday sleepers had greater dips in blood pressure while
sleeping at night which is associated with better health outcomes. We
also found that hypertensive patients who slept at noon were under fewer
antihypertensive medications compared to those who didn’t sleep
midday.”
He concluded: “We found that midday sleep is associated with lower 24
hour blood pressure, an enhanced fall of BP in night, and less damage
to the arteries and the heart. The longer the midday sleep, the lower
the systolic BP levels and probably fewer drugs needed to lower BP.”
No comments:
Post a Comment