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Time spe
nt asleep has been linked to blood pressure (BP) levels. Researchers at the Asclepion Voulas Hospital in Athens performed
a study to see if taking a nap at midday affected the BP of hypertensive patients.
Sleep habits, BP, lifestyle habits and other measures were collected for 386 patients. Those who slept at midday had a 4% lower daytime systolic BP (126.18±10.25 mmHg vs 131.45±13.21 mmHg, P<0.05) and also a 6% lower night time systolic BP (114.97±11.23 mmHg vs 122.56±15.13 mmHg, P<0.005). In addition, midday sleepers were on fewer antihypertensive medications.
During the European Society of Cardiology Congress on 29 August 2015[1]
where the results were presented, lead researcher Manolis Kallistratos, a cardiologist, said “the longer the midday sleep, the lower the systolic BP levels and probably fewer drugs needed to lower BP”.
References
[1] Kallistratos M, Poulimenos L, Karamanou A et al . Association of midday naps occurrence and duration with BP levels in hypertensive patients. A prospective observational study. European Society of Cardiology Congress 2015. Abstract P906.
