Siesta Protects the Heart

Posted on May 28, 2008
Filed Under Heart Disease |

The hypothesis that a nap can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease was proposed on the basis of evidence suggesting that countries where smoking is common (Mediterranean and several Latin American countries) also had low rates of mortality from the disease coronary arteries of the heart.

The authors of the study Siesta in healthy adults and coronary mortality in the general population, evaluated the association between siesta and coronary mortality in a group of adults in the Greek that has been measured in detail the physical activity has been verified co morbidity or presence of other diseases at the start of the study, and have identified risk factors for coronary mortality, including diet. In this way evaluate the association between siesta and coronary mortality of workers separately for men (young and healthy) and among men who retired and did not work.

In summary
Men working in the siesta protects from cardiovascular diseases. To a lesser extent women.

Were studied over 23,000 people during an average follow-up period of 6 years.

The results showed that men who slept the siesta after lunch showed a 34% lower chance of dying from cardiac causes than those who do not sleep. Among those who occasionally slept the siesta, the risk reduction was 12%, while those who slept in at least three times a week for at least half an hour, the decrease in cardiovascular risk was 37%. The authors note that, in view of these results, the siesta was associated with a lower risk of dying of heart. This inverse association, ie, protective, was more evident in men and only marginal in women. The association was greater in male workers, and weak and not significant for retirees. The researchers interpret their findings as indicating that in healthy adult’s siesta, possibly acting through a relaxation of stress, may reduce coronary mortality.

The authors conclude that the siesta in apparently healthy individuals, and particularly in those men who work, are inversely associated (provides protection) with coronary mortality after controlling for various factors that may interfere with the results, diet and physical activity. And note that these findings are highly relevant because the siesta is a very common practice in many parts of the world and especially in Mediterranean countries and Central America.

Male workers Attention! Cabezadita a day after feeding protects the heart.

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