Not many of us have the luxury to take a midday snooze. But perhaps we should make a better effort. Taking time for a nap during the day could actually reduce our risk of death from heart disease, most likely by lowering stress levels. That's what researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and Greece's University of Athens Medical School recently found.
According Dimitrios Trichopoulos, M.D., whose study appeared in the February 12, 2007, issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine, his research stemmed from the observation that heart disease death rates are lower in Mediterranean and Latin American countries where midday siestas are part of the culture.
"The siesta is a victim of progress. Most of us aren't in the position to take a daily nap," he says. "But our research suggests that the practice could help protect the heart, and we need further studies to find out if this really is the case."
For the study, Dr. Trichopoulos and his colleagues enrolled nearly 23,700 residents of Greece with no history of heart disease, stroke or cancer and followed them for an average of 6.3 years. After controlling for other heart disease risk factors, such as diet and physical activity levels, the researchers concluded that people who took naps at least three times a week for an average of at least 30 minutes were 37 percent less likely to die of heart disease than people who did not take regular naps. Less frequent nappers had a 12 percent reduction in heart disease mortality. Also, it appeared that working men benefited more from taking naps as compared to men who were retired, suggesting that the stress-lowering effects of napping may explain their findings, according the researchers.
Of course, this study is only one of many explanations for why fewer Greeks than Americans die from heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Trichopoulos' prior research has already helped establish the cardio-protective benefits of the traditional Mediterranean diet, which is low in red meats and rich in fruits, vegetables, beans and grains.
For more information on Dr. Cherry's ministry, visit his Web site: http://www.AbundantNutrition.com
No comments:
Post a Comment