Midday naps - a valuable break that also helps combat high blood pressure
Whether a midday nap has a positive or negative effect on blood pressure has been debated repeatedly in recent years. At first, naps were thought to have a positive effect, but this was later disproved. However, the latest research once again supports taking a short nap at midday.
People troubled by high blood pressure can follow their example, as shown by a study conducted by Asklepieion General Hospital in Voula. The Greek researchers studied 212 people with high-normal blood pressure. The average age of the participants was 62. Some of the participants regularly took an afternoon nap, while the second group went about their day without this midday rest. The naps taken by the first group lasted between 48 and 54 minutes.
In comparison, the systolic blood pressure values of participants who took a midday nap fell significantly. While the blood pressure of those who did not nap remained unchanged, as expected, the systolic reading for those who napped fell by 3 to 5 mmHg. This is roughly equivalent to the reduction that can be achieved by giving up alcohol or following a low-salt diet. There was also a relationship between nap length and the reduction in blood pressure. For every 60 minutes of napping, the 24-hour average blood pressure fell by 3 mmHg.
With elevated blood pressure, beneficial effects on the risk of developing cardiovascular problems can already be expected from a reduction of as little as 2 mmHg.
Incidentally, in Japan, for example, the midday nap is regarded very differently than it is here. Taking a nap in public is considered perfectly normal there. In the United States, many companies provide quiet rooms with reclining chairs for power naps-the short naps people take during the day. In Germany, too, the midday nap is shedding its image as a sign of laziness-unfortunately only slowly-and coming to be seen as an energizing mini-break after which people can return to work refreshed and with renewed strength. This rehabilitation of the midday nap is certainly desirable, not least because it can help counteract high blood pressure and its complications.
However, if the midday nap becomes a must, or if you find yourself dozing off unintentionally during the day and can hardly manage your daily routine without these short naps, a problem with nighttime sleep may be the cause. This should be taken seriously and checked by a doctor, because sleep disorders can in turn negatively affect blood pressure.
Sources:
This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 12/2025).
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
