Have a snooze to lessen chance of heart attack
An afternoon snooze could protect against heart disease, according to researchers from the University of Athens Medical School who investigated why countries where siestas are commonplace also tend to have low rates of death from heart disease.
They found that those who occasionally napped had a 12% reduced risk of dying of a heart attack, and those who napped every day, a 37% reduced chance compared to those who didn’t nap at all. The reduction in risk was greater in men who were working, rather than those who were unemployed or retired.
Why were they less likely to die from heart disease? The researchers say it could be because people who nap in the daytime are less stressed, and there’s a definite link between high levels of stress and heart disease.
Or it could simply be that for 20 minutes or so, blood pressure is lower and heart rate is slower than the rest of the day, reducing the overall load on the heart.
Straight after lunch is the best time to nap. Find a quiet place away from passers-by and phones (a darkened room is best). Set the alarm for 20 minutes – the ideal time. And don’t drink caffeine in the hours before; it’ll keep you awake.
