The Scientific Benefits of Naps

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Naps are a helpful way to recuperate from the stresses of the day, and to help restore your energy for work and activities late in the day. Not only are naps useful for catching up on lost sleep, but there are also several verified medical benefits to taking naps. This article will explore these benefits, as well as share resources to better enable you to live a healthy, satisfying life.

1. Improved Memory Function

A study reported by Time found that naps may help babies to retain memories (S1). Older children have also been found to have improved memory function after napping. These benefits, while focused on children, have broad implications for people in general. Instituting a time for rest and relaxation among your employees may lead to better work outcomes, as they recover from post-lunch torpor and tiredness. Even if you are a stay-at-home parent, or work from home, giving yourself time to nap may improve your productivity, and let you figure out solutions to problems as you give your brain time to regenerate itself.

2. Lowered Blood Pressure but Potentially Increased CVD Risk

Napping may lower blood pressure (S2). Although this study did not determine whether the nap itself was the cause of lowered blood pressure, it does provide an avenue of future research, that should be considered by individuals who have had recently had restricted sleep.

It should be noted, however, that not all studies have found positive effects for napping. A study done by the International Journal of Epidemiology found increased rate of all-cause mortality to daytime nappers. However, many of the studies cited were non-generalizable due to being done in countries with daytime siestas being common, although the Japanese study did find consistent results,  the authors suggested that the association may be due to factors underlying both napping and cardiovascular disease, rather than due to being caused by napping. However if you are at risk of cardiovascular disease, or are concerned, attempt to sleep longer during the nights and consult a physician or specialist.

3. Improved Emotional Affect

A Berkeley study (S3) found that REM sleep adjusts stress levels and could enable individuals to better interpret emotional cues from others in their surroundings. This could potentially result in better maintained relationships between family and friends as interpretations of negative, threatening stimuli depends on alertness, and the physiological status of individuals. Thus, for both family, friends, and business associates, naps could have a beneficial impact on personal and professional relationships.

4. Increased Productivity for Night-time Workers

While having a regular sleep period of 7-8 hours is recommended (more for children and teenagers), some individuals must work irregular hours, or night shifts that interrupt having a normal, uninterrupted sleep schedule (S4). Loss of productivity for graveyard shift workers is commonly observed, due to changes in night-day sleep cycle, and other factors, but naps given were shown to maintain higher levels of functioning, if they were taken prior to the shift work, while performance declined as was expected in those who did not take naps.

5. Other Benefits of Napping

A study in the Journal of Sleep Research (S5) surveyed key studies which found increases in alertness, mood, reaction time in participants who napped.

Overall, while there is still much to be learned about the benefits and drawbacks of napping, there are established benefits. While certain groups such as the elderly and infirm may wish to improve their sleep duration by increasing the time they sleep at night, others may find naps to be a beneficial way to improve their quality of life.

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Heidi Kristoffer
I am Heidi Kristoffer, as an expert on natural health and holistic medicine, I am willing to help people live happier capable lives by sharing my health opinions with others. I am good at writing topics such as: medicine, natural remedies, foods and mental health. I think living a simple and healthy life, including eating healthy, exercising regularly and positively thinking, is the best medicine.