2023-10-09 03:49:00
Oh, how tired I am! I think I should take a nap. I’ll read a few more lines and sleep a little. Great idea! Let’s see what they write about daytime sleep… Wow!
Afternoon naps are good for your brain
According to scientists, taking a nap is actually a good idea. Researchers have found a moderate causal link between lack of regular sleep and the fact that brain volume gradually decreases with age, according to the journal Sleep Health. According to the study, short, regular sleep is beneficial for the brain in the long term, as greater overall brain volume reduces the risk of developing dementia and other diseases.
For the study, scientists from the Universidad Republican de Uruguay and University College London analyzed information on 378,932 people aged 40 to 69 years from a British biological data bank. Experts have concluded that there is even a genetic predisposition to prefer napping during the day.
According to sleep physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital, there are three types of people for whom sleep is especially important: those who rise very early, those who suffer from sleep disorders, or those who need more sleep for genetic reasons.
It is quite possible that it is because of my genes that I am tired and prefer to sleep, despite the good weather outside.
Does napping improve cognitive performance?
It is unclear whether sleep improves mental performance. Michigan sleep researchers found little benefit for cognitive performance. And in a study conducted in Uruguay, scientists found no evidence of increases in reaction speed and visual processing.
“How pathetic!” – I yawn. However, as I read further, I find a surprisingly large amount of scientific material on sleep. For example, according to a Chinese study, afternoon naps still improve cognitive abilities among older Chinese residents.
Although napping is frowned upon in many Western countries, it is much more common in Japan, China and Spain (where it is known as siesta). “In China, nap time is integrated into the afternoon work schedule of many adults and university students,” writes Xiaopeng Ji of the University of Delaware, a private research university in the United States.
Does napping contribute to high blood pressure and stroke?
But then I see a publication in the journal “Hypertension”, and I get a little shocked. Does short sleep really put you at risk?
According to another Chinese study, data from the UK shows that people who took regular afternoon naps had a twelve percent higher risk of developing high blood pressure than those who did not nap during the day. Moreover, daytime nappers have a 24 percent higher risk of stroke. This sounds quite alarming.
Wait a minute! Among the subjects there was a very high percentage of men, who, as is known, often do not pay due attention to their health. In addition, many of the study participants were people with low levels of education and income, as well as people who smoked, drank alcohol every day, suffered from insomnia, or were night owls.
“Owls” often need a nap during the day. Photo: svyatoslav lipinskiy/Zoonar/picture alliance
High blood pressure or extreme obesity can also lead to above-average fatigue. Daytime napping may be linked to obesity problems, but is not necessarily a cause of poor health. Sleep researcher Michael Grandner of the University of Arizona explains that those who can’t sleep at night often try to sleep during the day. “Poor nighttime sleep is associated with poor health, and daytime sleep is not enough to compensate for this,” the expert points out.
Ideal daytime sleep
According to a study conducted in Switzerland, only intermittent naps – once or twice a week, rather than every day – are beneficial for heart health. The analysis shows that it is this kind of sleep, episodic rather than daily, that significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, explains Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Joachim Trappe, director of the cardiology department at the Marien Herne Hospital at the University Hospital Ruhr. University in Bochum.
Slowly closing my eyes, I briefly summarize what I read: “Intermittent naps are good for the brain and heart. 20-30 minutes is enough to avoid falling into REM sleep and not feeling more tired afterwards than before. For problems with insomnia at night after lunch sleep should be avoided.”
Clear. And if I’m going to read for bedtime, I’d prefer something simpler than the results of research on healthy afternoon naps…
See also:
#daytime #sleep #beneficial #scientists