Siesta cuts risk of heart disease

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A regular siesta reduces the chances of heart-related death by one-third among all adults. Taking afternoon naps could dramatically cut your risk of dying from heart disease, say researchers.

The researchers from Harvard School of Public Health in the U.S. and the University of Athens Medical School in Greece claim siesta may improve health by releasing stress, which is a known trigger for heart problems.

Their study involved almost 24,000 Greek men and women aged 20 to 86 who did not have heart disease or any other serious illnesses when they enrolled for the project between 1994 and 1997.At the beginning of the study, the volunteers were asked if they took a midday nap and if so, how often and for how long.

Researchers followed the participants for more than six years, during which time 792 of them died - including 133 from heart disease.They found those who took naps of any frequency or duration had a 34 per cent lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who did not.

Systematic nappers - defined as those who took a siesta for 30 minutes or more at least three times a week - had a 37 per cent lower risk of heart-related death. Among working men those who took midday naps, either occasionally or systematically, had a 64 per cent lower risk of death from heart disease. This compared with non-working men taking naps who had a 36 per cent reduction in risk. Figures for working women were unavailable as only six died during the study. Because the study found working men got the greatest benefit from regular naps the researchers concluded a reduction in stress in general, and job-related stress in particular, was probably responsible.