A midday snooze could help you lose high blood pressure better than meds

Have you heard the phrase, “if you snooze, you lose?”

Usually, it refers to missing out on something because you weren’t paying attention and let an opportunity pass you by.

But here’s one opportunity you can totally snooze on, and still reap some impressive benefits…

A prescription for a daily nap

Researchers in Greece have now found in two back-to-back studies that taking a daily nap can have the same blood pressure lowering effects as taking prescription blood pressure drugs.

In the first study, the team looked at the effects of napping on people whose blood pressure was dangerously high while in the second, they assessed the power of a siesta in those with better-controlled pressure.

And, in both cases, the results were impressive.

Even for the group whose blood pressure wasn’t in the danger zone, the overall average 24-hour systolic blood pressure was 5.3 mm Hg lower among those who napped compared with those who didn’t – which according to the researchers is on par with the results seen from low-dose antihypertensive medications. And, it provided even better blood pressure control than the usual lifestyle changes recommended by doctors, such as limiting salt and alcohol, that can bring blood pressure levels down by 3 to 5 mm Hg.

“These findings are important because a drop in blood pressure as small as 2 mm Hg can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack by up to 10 percent,” said Manolis Kallistratos, MD, a cardiologist at the Asklepieion General Hospital in Voula, Greece, and one of the study’s co-authors.
“We obviously don’t want to encourage people to sleep for hours on end during the day, but on the other hand, they shouldn’t feel guilty if they can take a short nap, given the potential health benefits.”

The easy answer to better blood pressure

So, if you want to improve your blood pressure significantly, whether you’re already taking medications to control your pressure or not, a daily nap could be the key to a heart-healthy life.

No one will have to twist my arm to take a daily nap. I’ll be more than happy to add it to my list of “preventative” natural therapies I depend on to manage my risks of high blood pressure naturally — which includes these nutrients:

• Vitamin K2 – Promotes healthy blood flow and blood pressure by helping to keep your arteries elastic and pliable.
• Pterostilbene – A powerful antioxidant that helps block the creation of Angiotensin II – an enzyme that stiffens the walls of your blood vessels and triggers a hormone that increases the amounts of sodium and water retained by your body.
• Green tea extract – Contains catechins that have been proven to reduce oxidative stress and soothe inflammation, supporting your heart health.
• Grape Seed Extract – Polyphenols in grape seed extract activate nitric oxide in the lining of blood vessels and relax arteries promoting healthy blood flow.

Now, where’s my pillow…

Sources:

1. A nap a day keeps high blood pressure at bay — American College of Cardiology