Sleep is a vital part of our health. It’s when the body rests, replenishes, repairs and renews itself to take on all the things that we put it through each and every day. Stop to think about all of the things that the body has to endure to get through your waking day and then add to that a variety of other factors—stress, exercise, and injuries. Despite this much-needed and necessary part of our daily lives, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 35% of the adult population in the United States report less than the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. The benefits of napping can greatly influence how you go about your day as well as positively promote your health.Sleep is a vital part of our health. It’s when the body rests, replenishes, repairs and renews itself to take on all the things that we put it through each and every day. Stop to think about all of the things that the body has to endure to get through your waking day and then add to that a variety of other factors—stress, exercise, and injuries. Despite this much-needed and necessary part of our daily lives, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 35% of the adult population in the United States report less than the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. The benefits of napping can greatly influence how you go about your day as well as positively promote your health.
The Impact of Sleep Deprivation
Most people assume that the only impact of not getting enough sleep is fatigue and crankiness, much like a tired toddler that needs a nap. However, sleep deprivation implies a consistent lack of sleep, which can lead to an increased risk of several chronic health problems, including but not limited to:
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Arthritis
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Asthma
• Cancer
By depriving the body of its natural ability to repair and restore cells within the body for healing and proper function, you literally run your body into the ground.
If you are someone that seems unable to get your 7 to 8 hours of sleep in each night, you may be wondering what else can you do to help and the simple answer is…naps!
What are the Benefits of Napping?
Naps are a great way to help give your body some extra rest and sleep throughout the day. According to the National Sleep Foundation, over 85% of mammals are what are known as “polyphasic sleepers”, which means that they sleep for shorter periods of time throughout the day. Think about your cat or dog at home. Chances are, they don’t stay awake for 18 to 20 hours of the day and then sleep. They sleep in shorter periods all throughout the day.
• Short Nap – If you are short on time, a nap somewhere between 20 to 30 minutes can provide significant improvements in performance, energy and alertness.
• Long Nap – If you have the time, a 40-minute nap can also provide an even greater impact on your alertness and performance according to a study done by NASA.
Catching up on sleep is never a one to one “transaction”, so if you only slept for 4 hours one night, it should not be assumed that a 3 or 4-hour nap throughout the day will help to “complete” your sleep cycle. It doesn’t quite work that way. In fact, an extended nap that goes longer than an hour may leave you feeling even more tired or groggy than before. It can also interfere with your nighttime sleep patterns and make it difficult to fall or stay asleep at night.
If you have children or have ever taken care of younger children, you are no stranger to seeing the vast difference between a child that has had a midday nap versus one that has not. Napping as an adult will provide you the same refreshed and renewed feeling, while in the background helping to alleviate many the other ailments like those listed above which you may not either know about or have attributed to a lack of sleep.
Sleep Doctor in New York City
Naps, when properly planned and implemented into your daily or weekly schedule can provide you a significant number of benefits. However, if you are finding it difficult to get to sleep through the night or take naps, you may be one of 50 to 70 million adults in the United States suffering from a sleep disorder. The premier sleep doctor in New York City, Sleep MD is here to help those throughout the state of New York, including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Islands and the surrounding communities. Contact us at 212-661-7077 or send us a message online to schedule a consultation today!
