A Nap Can Be Good For Your Heart

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

16 Feb 2007 10:00 PM

Enjoy an afternoon siesta? Like to catch a few zzzs between lunch and the end of the work day? Here's some good news -- research from the University of Athens in Greece says that a midday nap may help reduce the risk of fatal heart problems.

This study tracked more than twenty-three thousand healthy Greek adults for six years or so. The ones who made time for a half-hour nap at least three times per week had a thirty-seven percent lower risk of heart attack and other heart problems than the non-nappers did. The majority of the participants were in their fifties; it seems that men benefited more from the naps than women did, and working men the most of all.

The head researcher on the study, who splits his time between Harvard University and the University of Athens Medical School, said that a nap during the workday could help reduce critical stress.

Many cultures -- especially those in warmer climates -- already include a rest break during the day. Is it a coincidence that those countries also have relatively low rates of heart disease? The dietary habits -- like eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, beans, and heart healthy olive oil -- also contribute to good heart health. But it seems like a nap can help give your body a break from the stress of a busy day. Even a ten second break in a stressful situation can lower your stress levels; a half hour nap is even better.

The final word? If you can find time for a nap break, give it a try. You may just wake up feeling energized and more productive... and your heart will thank you.

Will American employers jump on the nap bandwagon? Napping during the workday is generally seen as a sign of laziness -- just look at George Costanza from Seinfeld. But a few companies are hip to the power of napping. Yarde Metals in Southington, Connecticut, has installed a nap room with leather sofas, soft lighting, and an alarm clock in its corporate headquarters. And the employees are loving it!

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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