Jennifer Lopez and Eva Mendes are famous lovers of sleep, and it has obviously done wonders for them and their health. According to a new report published by the European Society of Cardiology, poor sleep habits are associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The research also has revealed that midday naps are linked to reduced blood pressure levels and fewer incidences of certain cardiovascular diseases.

The new findings are important because sleeplessness is common among second-generation Latinos. Today, heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans, and stroke is the fifth leading cause of death. Also, Hispanics face additional risks of developing cardiovascular diseases because of high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes, according to the American Heart Association.

The new ESC research could help Latinos to better understand the body's relationship with sleep and shift health outcomes, simply by proposing that people catch a few extra ZZZs during the middle of the day.

Two-hour midday naps help to regulate blood pressure and reduce the need for antihypertensive medications. Researchers interviewed nearly 400 study participants with blood pressure conditions. Participants who committed to naps were found to have lower blood pressure. Their blood pressure read 4 to 6 percent lower than those who didn't nap. Midday sleepers also experienced noticeable dips in their blood pressure during their nighttime sleep.

"We found that midday sleep is associated with lower 24 hour blood pressure, an enhanced fall of BP in night, and less damage to the arteries and the heart. The longer the midday sleep, the lower the systolic BP levels and probably fewer drugs needed to lower BP," Dr. Manolis Kallistratos, the cardiologist who led the study, said via the press release.

Not only is there a correlation between midday sleeping and lower blood pressure, but longer slumber sessions are also associated with better outcomes. Nonetheless, researchers understand that privilege is associated with being able to sleep during the middle of the day. Because of the nine-to-five work structure that most must abide by, most can't enjoy a midday rest. Most U.S. Latinos and Americans are committed to intense daily routines and work weeks involve working 35 hours or more.

The study's purpose was to measure the effect of midday sleep on blood pressure levels in hypertensive patients. After considering other factors, including salt, alcohol, exercise and coffee, they found that midday sleepers had 5 percent lower average 24 hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure, compared to those who didn't sleep midday. While the blood pressure decreases may seem extremely low, reductions as small as 2 mmHg in systolic blood pressure could translate to a 10 percent reduction in cardiovascular risk. Also, midday sleepers have less damage from high blood pressure in their arteries and heart, according to researchers.

Individuals who slept for 60 minutes in the middle of the day experienced a 4 mmHg decrease on average and a two percent heightened probability of their blood pressure dipping during their evening sleep hours. Dippers, on average, took in an additional 17 minutes of sleep during the middle of the day.

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