18 Sep Mid-Day Nap May Be Good For Your Blood Pressure

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr Manolis Kallistratos MD,PhD FESC,EHS
Cardiologist at Asklepieion Voula General Hospital
Athens, Greece

 Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr Kallistratos: We all know that lifestyle changes represent the cornerstone of treatment of arterial hypertension. Lifestyle changes include restriction of salt and alcohol, physical activity, smoking cessation and weight loss. On the other hand, we know that many individuals especially the elders are sleeping at noon. Unfortunately there are few studies assessing mid-day sleep. A study in healthy individuals affirmed that sleeping at noon resulted in a decrease of 12% of the relative risk of coronary mortality in healthy subjects.  So the question regarding this habit is: Is it only a custom, a behavioral adaptation or is it also beneficial? Should mid-day sleep be included in the life style changes suggested by the doctors in patients with arterial hypertension? because we all know that nowadays is almost a privilege for a few due to the “nine to five” working culture, and the intense daily routine.

For this purpose we prospectively studied 386 middle-aged patients (200 males and 186 females) from our outpatient hypertensive clinic. We observed that hypertensive patients that slept at noon presented lower pulse wave velocity levels (less stiff arteries), lower daytime and nighttime as well as average systolic blood pressure levels (24-hours SBP) . In general mid-day sleep decreased systolic blood pressure levels (during 24 hours) for approximately 6 mm of Hg. 60 minutes of mid-day sleep, decreased average SBP in our patients for about 4 mmHg. In addition, there was a trend, patients who slept at noon to be under fewer medications.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr Kallistratos: Mid-day sleep decreases systolic blood pressure levels. Although the mean  blood pressure  decrease seems low, it has to be mentioned that reductions as small as 2 mmHg in systolic blood pressure can reduce the relative risk of cardiovascular events by up to 10%. However, a prolonged mid-day sleep period may not be beneficial, since usually reflects and is associated among other, with other probably less beneficial habits of patients.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr Kallistratos: This was an observational and not a randomized study however, it’s difficult to randomize someone to sleep or not to sleep. Moreover, happens that those patients were well controlled in respect of their  blood pressure levels. Probably untreated patients or patients with uncontrolled hypertension could present different results (probably higher drop of  blood pressure levels). More studies with larger sample of patients could verify our results.

Citation: Abstract presented at the European Society of Cardiology September 2015. “Midday naps associated with reduced blood pressure and fewer medications.”

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Dr Manolis Kallistratos (2015). Mid-Day Nap May Be Good For Your Blood Pressure 

Last Updated on September 18, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD