Extended afternoon naps are associated with hypertension in women but not in men.
Yuhang Yang, Wei Liu, Xiaopeng Ji and 4 others
PMID 31521340WHAT IT FOUND
Hypertension was more common in women who napped 90 minutes or more after lunch than in women who did not nap, especially older women.
No such difference was seen in men. This is a link, not proof naps raise blood pressure.
Key findings
01In the whole sample, the adjusted odds ratio for hypertension was 1.16 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.35) for the 90-minute-or-more nap group compared with non-nappers.
02In women, the adjusted odds ratio for hypertension was 1.44 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.80) for the longest nap group compared with non-nappers.
03No significant association between afternoon napping duration and hypertension was found in men or middle-aged groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The data were collected at one time point, so the study cannot show that long naps cause hypertension. Nap length was based on self-report about the past month, not observed sleep. Sleep apnea, insomnia, and sleep quality were not measured. People taking antidepressants, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, or receiving psychiatric treatment were excluded.
Declared interests
The supplied publication types list research support from the N.I.H. (extramural) and a non-U.S. government source. No author conflict-of-interest declaration is included in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that long afternoon naps cause hypertension. The study measured naps and blood pressure at the same time, and it did not account for sleep apnea or insomnia. Also, the association was not significant in men, so it should not be applied equally to all adults.