Don't feel guilty about your midday "siesta." Quite the opposite. New scientific research urges us to include at least a 50-minute midday nap in our daily schedule, since in this way we help reduce our blood pressure inexpensively and painlessly.
According to the researchers, led by cardiologist Dr. Manolis Kallistratos, of the "Asclepius" General Hospital in Voula, and the presentation they made at the annual conference of the American College of Cardiology in Washington, the siesta It is associated with an average reduction in systolic blood pressure of 5.3 mm Hg to 127.6 mm Hg versus 132.9 mm Hg for those who do not have the luxury of napping during the day.
This conclusion was reached from the study of 212 people with an average age of 62 and an average blood pressure of 129.9 mm Hg. Of these, one in four was a smoker and/or had diabetes.
The study also showed that for every hour of additional nap time, 24-hour average systolic blood pressure decreased by 3 mm Hg. The average diastolic blood pressure of those who napped was also lower (76.2 mm Hg) than those who did not nap (79.5 mm Hg).
“The findings are important because a reduction in blood pressure as small as 2 mm Hg can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as a heart attack by up to 101%. Based on our findings, if someone has the luxury of taking a nap during the day, they may see benefits for their high blood pressure. Napping can be easily adopted and costs nothing,” said Mr. Kallistratos.
In fact, the contribution of a midday nap in reducing blood pressure may be at levels comparable to those achieved by an antihypertensive drug or a reduction in salt and alcohol in our daily diet. Specifically, a reduction in salt and alcohol can lower blood pressure levels by 3 to 5 mm Hg, while a typical low-dose antihypertensive drug usually lowers blood pressure by 5 to 7 mm Hg on average, points out Mr. Kallistratos.
So, feel free to take a nap at noon, although… in moderation. Napping in combination with a healthy Mediterranean diet will help you "build" a healthier cardiovascular profile, reducing the long-term risk of heart attacks and strokes due to high blood pressure.
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