Whether you call it a nap, a nap, a nap or a nap, one thing is certain: taking a mid-afternoon break is good for your health. In fact, there are numerous studies that have followed to demonstrate the benefits of the beloved nap. Which ones are they? Let’s find out together with Fab SMS.
The golden rules of nap
The daytime nap should last between twenty and thirty minutes, in order not to risk falling into the so-called inertia of sleep, which is the phase in which you sleep very soundly, wake up becomes difficult and you are stunned. In other words, we slip into the same phase that we go through at the beginning of the night and which serves to protect the first, fundamental and restorative stage of rest. Best time for a nap? After lunch, when the circadian decrease in alertness is detected and the propensity to sleep is greater. Falling asleep late in the afternoon, on the other hand, could weaken the night’s sleep.
A panacea for the elderly
Taking a nap is good for everyone, but especially for the elderly. According to a recent study published in the scientific journal General Psychiatry, sleeping in the afternoon improves speech fluidity, memory, perception of space and mood stability. Could nap therefore play a beneficial role in preventing the onset of dementia? According to the research team, it is still too early to say: new and robust studies are needed in this direction.
Improves the health of the cardiovascular system
Napping puts the autonomic nervous system at rest and can have positive effects on blood pressure and heart activity. There are several studies that agree that taking regular naps has positive effects for the heart and blood pressure.
Help make decisions
According to data from a study from the University of Bristol and published in the Journal of Sleep Research, napping would help provide inspiration for making difficult decisions. In particular, the research highlights how the nap is able to favor the processing of information of which one is not fully aware and to evaluate the positive and negative aspects that can affect a decision.
It strengthens the immune system
When we are sleep deprived, the immune system weakens. If we happen to get little sleep one night, a nap before the next night helps us not to weaken our immune systems.
After a short rest, alertness and attention increase, improving memory and thinking skills. Some studies have shown the benefits of sleep on procedural and semantic memory for this reason the nap is also very suitable for students: taking a nap between a study session and the other allows you to consolidate what you have learned previously and improves cognitive performance. To avoid difficulty falling asleep in the evening, even the youngest are advised not to sleep after 4pm and never more than an hour at a time.
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