(17-10-15) Midday naps associated with reduced blood pressure and fewer medications

as presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology
Midday naps are associated with reduced blood pressure (BP) levels and the prescription of fewer antihypertensive medications, according to research presented at ESC, held in August-September in London. 
Investigators at Asklepieion Voula General Hospital in Athens assessed the effect of midday sleep on BP levels in hypertensive patients. The study included 386 middle aged patients (200 men and 186 women, average age 61.4) with arterial hypertension. In all patients were measured midday sleep time (in minutes), office BP, 24-hour ambulatory BP, pulse wave velocity, lifestyle habits, and body mass index (BMI). There also was a complete echocardiographic evaluation including left atrial size. 
After adjusting for other factors that could influence BP such as age, gender, BMI, smoking status, salt intake, 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. The researchers also found that in midday sleepers pulse wave velocity levels were 11% lower and left atrium diameter was 5% smaller. 
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 status  compared to patients who did not sleep midday. Dippers had an average of 17 minutes more midday sleep than non-dippers. Further, hypertensive patients who slept at noon were using fewer antihypertensive medications than those who didn’t sleep midday.

Source: quotivadis.it

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