The study published in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal, used information from the UK Biobank, a large biomedical database and research resource. Approximately 500,000 participants between the ages of 40 and 69 who lived in the United Kingdom between 2006 and 2010 were included in the database. All participants were required to routinely provide blood, urine and saliva samples along with lifestyle information. They also provided information about daytime napping.
From this large resource, study researchers excluded the records of people who had already had a stroke or high blood pressure before the start of the study. The association between napping and first-time reports of stroke or high blood pressure was then analyzed in approximately 360,000. All participants were divided into groups based on napping frequency of “never/rarely,” “sometimes,” or “usually.”
This is the first study of its kind to use both observational analyses of participants over a long period of time and Mendelian randomization. This genetic risk validation was used to determine whether frequent napping was associated with high blood pressure and ischemic stroke.
It was found that the percentage of usual-nappers were men, had lower income levels, lower education, were daily drinkers, smokers, had insomnia, snoring, and were evening people, compared to never- or sometimes-nappers.
Compared to people who never took a nap, those who reported taking regular naps had a 12% higher likelihood of developing high blood pressure and a 24% higher likelihood of having a stroke.
Age also seemed to play a role in the risk of high blood pressure and stroke in those who regularly napped. Participants younger than age 60 who usually napped had a 20% higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared to people the same age who never napped. After age 60, usual napping was associated with only a 10% higher risk.
“This may be because, although taking a nap itself is not harmful, many people who take naps may do so because of poor sleep at night. Poor sleep at night is associated with poorer health, and naps are not enough to make up for that,” said Michael A. Grandner, Ph.D., MTR, a sleep expert from the American Heart Association. “This study echoes other findings that generally show that taking more naps seems to reflect increased risk for problems with heart health and other issues.”
Getting a Restful Night’s Sleep
While more research is needed to examine further the associations between a healthy sleep pattern and heart health, this study suggests that getting a restful night’s sleep is essential for heart health.
Sleep Sure Plus is an excellent way to help promote optimal sleep and restfulness. One of the most important ingredients included in this unique formula is melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone essential for regulating the circadian rhythm (the body’s internal clock).
Sleep Sure Plus also contains valerian, one of the best natural ingredients for promoting rest and relaxation. These two essential ingredients are joined by another 6, which all work together to provide a better sleep quality.
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for blood pressure, but it is only one part of a healthy lifestyle for blood pressure. For those who are looking for an additional way to keep blood pressure levels in check, Healthy Blood Pressure Support can help provide comprehensive support for healthy blood pressure and overall health. Clinical studies have shown its unique combination of ingredients to help increase nitric oxide levels, reduce inflammation, and promote cardiovascular health.