According to the journal Heart, there is new evidence that daytime naps may be linked to a lower risk of heart attack or stroke, but only if they’re limited to a few times a week. The research was based on data collected from nearly 3,500 people between the ages of 35 and 75 without any evidence of heart disease. More than half (58 percent) said they never took a daytime siesta, while about one in 10 said they nodded off almost daily. About one in five participants hit what the researchers found to be the napping sweet spot: one to two times per week. It was that occasional nap frequency that was linked to a 48 percent lowered risk for heart attack, stroke or heart failure. Nap length did not appear to influence the findings, and included anything from a quick, five-minute catnap to an hour-plus snooze. Because the study was observational, it cannot prove cause and effect. Proven ways to reduce heart disease risk include a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and heart-healthy oils, not smoking, keeping weight and blood pressure to healthy levels, and frequent exercise.