Retirees can enjoy the health benefits of a nap. I was browsing my sign-in at JAMA and the archives today, and noticed this at Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:296-301, "Siesta in Healthy Adults and Coronary Mortality in the General Population." They don't have much evidence for women because very few died during the study, but for men it is clear: the habit of a regular mid-day nap lengthens their lives.- How this study was done: This study involved 23,681 men and women in Greece between the ages of 20 and 86 who volunteered to take part in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). All those in the study were asked whether they took a midday nap and, if so, how long they napped. They were divided into groups: those who never napped, those who took naps of 30 minutes or more at least three times per week and those who took midday naps occasionally or whose naps lasted less than 30 minutes. The researchers also asked about their levels of activity and diet. The study excluded those who had previously had heart disease, stroke or cancer.
What was found: Of those in the study, 792 died, and 133 of those died of heart disease. The researchers found that the risk of dying from heart disease was 37 percent lower for those who took naps of 30 minutes or more at least three times a week than for those who took no naps. Occasional napping did not have an effect on the risk of dying from heart disease. It appeared that the effect of napping was stronger in men, and in particular, men who worked. The authors said that findings are consistent with the fact that occupational stress can increase heart disease risk. Summary
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