London - Taking an afternoon nap reduces your blood pressure, research has found.
Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher were both aficionados of a snooze to recharge their batteries.
And it appears napping is also beneficial for your health. The study of 400 middle-aged men and women found those who napped at midday had blood pressure an average of five percent lower than those who did not, the European Society of Cardiology’s annual conference in London was told.
Dr Manolis Kallistratos, lead researcher and cardiologist of Asklepieion Voula General Hospital in Athens, said even modest reductions in blood pressure could cut the risk of a heart attack.
Meanwhile, Turkish researchers found heavy snorers were more at risk of sudden death from heart problems. Sleep apnoea causes a lack of oxygen that makes heart issues more likely, they said.
However, sleeping at a 45-degree angle on your back – perhaps using an extra pillow – lessens the risk.
Daily Mail