LONDON – A regular midday nap is associated with clinically meaningful reductions in blood pressure in hypertensive patients, according to a prospective observational study presented at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology.
The midday nappers in the 386-patient study averaged 5 mm Hg lower daytime and 8 mm Hg lower nighttime systolic blood pressure, compared with non-nappers, Dr. Manolis Kallistratos said in a video interview.
Sleep during nap time was associated with bigger blood pressure reductions than simply resting. Sawing logs for 60 minutes or more brought the most benefits, according to Dr. Kallistratos, head of the hypertension division at Asklepieion Voula General Hospital in Athens.
Nappers also had significantly less arterial stiffness as reflected in a lower pulse wave velocity, as well as a smaller average left atrial diameter indicative of less structural heart damage, the cardiologist noted.