RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the siesta in ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring and in cardiac structure parameters. METHODS: 1940 ambulatory arterial blood pressure monitoring tests were analyzed (Spacelabs 90207, 15/15 minutes from 7:00 to 22:00 hours and 20/20 minutes from 22:01 to 6.59hours) and 21 percent of the records indicated that the person had taken a siesta (263 woman, 52ñ14 years). The average duration of the siesta was 118ñ58 minutes. RESULTS: (average ñ standard deviation) The average of systolic/diastolic pressures during wakefulness, including the napping period, was less than the average for the period not including the siesta (138ñ16/85ñ11 vs 139ñ16/86ñ11 mmHg, p<0.05); 2) pressure loads during wakefulness including the siesta, were less than those observed without the siesta); 3) the averages of nocturnal sleep blood pressures were similar to those of the siesta, 4) nocturnal sleep pressure drops were similar to those in the siesta including wakefulness with and without the siesta; 5) the averages of BP in men were higher (p<0.05) during wakefulness with and without the siesta, during the siesta and nocturnal sleep in relation to the average obtained in women; 6) patients with a reduction of 0- 5 percent during the siesta had thickening of the interventricular septum and a larger posterior wall than those with a reduction during the siesta >5 percent. CONCLUSION: The siesta influenced the heart structure parameters and from a statistical point of view the average of systolic and diastolic pressures and the respective pressure loads of the wakeful period.