We previously mentioned that restless nighttime sleep can negatively affect heart health: people who frequently wake up at night experience heart rhythm disturbances, and those suffering from insomnia have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.
If a night's sleep was unsuccessful, it might be worth trying to take a nap during the day—especially since daytime napping proves to be quite beneficial for the cardiovascular system. For example, there is evidence that a short daytime rest can help lower blood pressure.
A recent study published in the journal Heart, conducted by researchers from the University of Lausanne, shows that people who regularly nap during the day have a significantly lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases. The authors of the study analyzed medical data from over 3,400 participants aged 35 to 75, while also surveying them about their sleep quality.
It turned out that those who nap at least once or twice a week have a 48% lower likelihood of cardiovascular problems compared to those who do not nap during the day. Typically, these daytime naps do not exceed one hour, and sometimes just five minutes of rest is sufficient. More frequent or longer daytime naps did not have a significant impact on heart attack statistics, so very little time is needed for 'sleepy' heart support.
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