Do you know why siestas are good?

Prof. Know Why answers:

Usually it is said by doctors that six to eight hours of sleep at night is ideal for most people, though what is more important is the quality of sleep. But recent studies say that, also 40 winks, better known as catnap or siesta in the middle of the day is good to health and can protect you from a heart attack.

A recent large UK study of around 23,000 people in Greece reported that those who catnapped for at least 30 minutes in the afternoon, three times or more a week had a 37 percent lower risk of death due to heart attacks compared to those who did not.

People who occasionally took a siesta had a 12 percent lower risk. In the study, a siesta was defined as “typically short naps or rest periods of no more than an hour that are taken in the afternoon”. Cardiologists say siestas help people relax, reduce their stress levels and benefit heart function by lowering blood pressure. Blood pressure and heart rate decrease while sleeping. Lowered blood pressure reduces strain on the heart and decreases the risk of a fatal heart attack.

While earlier studies on siestas have linked it to a slight increase in heart attack risk, newer and more controlled studies have shown that afternoon naps or siestas reduce the risk of fatal heart attacks. Taking a long afternoon nap, however, can lead to heightened heart risk by making people inactive and overweight, - warn cardiologists. Care should also be taken that, siestas do not lead to reduced overall physical activities.

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