Do you find that a short nap during the day is restorative? Do you fall asleep as soon as you get home from work and miss the evening news? Napping is a common habit and like most habits there are people who study it.
Most people generally do not get sufficient sleep, and a growing body of research indicates that this deficit is taking a toll on day-to-day functioning, as well as long-term health outcomes. Insufficient sleep has been associated with increased disease risk including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, dementia and early mortality. Given this ever-increasing list of ill effects of poor sleep, we are looking for an effective, inexpensive and manageable intervention for sleep loss. Could napping be the answer?
Depending on the length of nap time (30min to 3hrs) you are waking in different stages of sleep which may convey different benefits, and each sleep stage may convey different aspects of cognitive and emotional effects. Considering the challenges of studying napping, it is not surprising that there is wide disagreement as to the health effects of napping. Thus, the answer to the important and timely question of whether napping should be recommended does not yet exist. Napping can be masking other diseases such as depression or anxiety. However, for some, napping may be an essential and potent habit that can be encouraged throughout life.
If you are a napper, don't stop just yet unless the naps interfere with living an active and involved life.
