Power Nap

In a recent study scientists have found that a power nap, at least three times a week, can lower the risk for cardiovascular diseases by 30%. In this study, the scientists studied the famous siesta that is usual in the Mediterranean and several latin-american countries. These areas have a very low mortality due to heart problems. This is the first extensive study where all the participants were healthy when the study began. This is also the first study that controls all risk factors as diet and physical activity.

Scientists at Harvard School of Public Health and University of Athens Medical School in Greece performed this study on power naps. 24,000 participants living in Greece took part in this study. They differed in age from 20 to 86 years. None of them had any heart problems, stroke or cancer when the study began. The study lasted over six years. During this time 792 participants died. Of them, 113 died from cardiovascular diseases.

The results from this study showed that the participants who took a power nap (siesta) for 30 minutes three times a week had a 37% lower mortality rate than those who didn’t take a siesta. Those who occasionally took a siesta had 12% lower risk, but this wasn’t statistically significant. The siesta had a more protecting effect on men who were working. They had 64% lower risk for heart problems. For working women there were too few deaths to come to any conclusions. The power nap had a very little effect on retired people and those who didn't work.

The scientists behind this research stated that the relation between retired people and workers reflect the different stress levels in these groups.

So go back to your college days and reward yourself with a much needed siesta.


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