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The next time you catch yourself nodding off midday, don’t reach for the coffee, grab a pillow! Researchers have found that taking a nap midday can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk for cardiovascular events, in turn decreasing the need for medication. “Our study shows that not only is midday sleep associated with lower blood pressure, but longer sleeps are even more beneficial,” Dr. Manolis Kallistratos, a cardiologist at Asklepieion Voula General Hospital, said. “Midday sleepers had greater dips in blood pressure while sleeping at night, which is associated with better health outcomes. We also found that hypertensive patients who slept at noon were under fewer antihypertensive medications compared to those who didn’t sleep midday.” Researchers studied 200 men and 186 women with arterial hypertension. Participants who napped had a 5% lower average blood pressure in comparison to the nap-free, and the pulse wave velocity in their hearts was 11% lower, which indicates less stress. Bring on the siesta! (UPI) (Image:Pixabay.com)