In the fast-paced modern life, napping has become a topic of great concern. Some people firmly believe that napping is an essential part of health preservation, while others believe that it will delay time and even affect work efficiency. So, is napping just needed or dispensable? In the long run, what is the difference between people who take a nap and those who don't?
1. The necessity of napping
Many people need a nap in the middle of the day, otherwise they will feel listless in the afternoon, as if their bodies have been hollowed out. Academician Zhong Nanshan also admitted frankly that he would take a half-hour nap every day, which had a great impact on his afternoon work. When you wake up from a nap, your energy will be much better.
A "human sleep and wake rhythm experiment" confirmed that people can only stay fully awake for about 4 hours, after which they become sleepy. This is a normal physiological manifestation, and if possible, a healthy nap is beneficial.
2. The benefits of napping
1. Increased brain volume: Studies have found that people who take a nap have a larger brain volume than those who don't. This means that napping may help slow down the aging process in the brain.
2. Lowers blood pressure: Several studies have shown that people who nap may have lower blood pressure levels.
3. Beneficial for cardiovascular health: Proper napping can also improve nighttime sleep deprivation, and people who take occasional lunch breaks have a relatively low risk of stroke and heart failure.
3. Precautions for napping
While there are many benefits to napping, there are some things to be aware of, especially after the age of 50.
1. Don't take too long: Taking naps for too long may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and also increase the risk of death. The optimal nap time should be kept to around 30 minutes.
2. Don't go to bed when you're full: Taking a nap after a meal will reduce the blood supply to the brain and body, and you will wake up feeling tired.
3. Avoid sleeping on your stomach: This sleeping position will cause pressure on the arms, eyes, cervical spine, etc., resulting in muscle strain, shoulder and neck pain, blurred vision and other problems.
4. Nap habits and cultural differences
Why do many people on the mainland have the habit of taking a nap, but foreigners basically do not have this habit? This is mainly related to eating habits. The dietary pattern of the mainland usually recommends that you have a full lunch, and after eating a large amount, the blood will concentrate in the gastrointestinal tract for digestion, and people are prone to sleepiness. And in some foreign cultures, lunch may be relatively simple and less likely to cause drowsiness.
V. Conclusions
Overall, napping is beneficial for most people, but not absolutely. Everyone's physical condition and lifestyle habits are different, and you need to decide whether to take a nap according to your own situation. However, regardless of whether you take a nap or not, you should pay attention to maintaining good lifestyle habits and routine to maintain good health. Proper napping can bring many benefits, such as increasing brain volume, lowering blood pressure, improving cardiovascular health, etc. But pay attention to factors such as nap time, posture, etc., to avoid possible negative effects. In daily life, we should arrange napping reasonably according to our actual situation and make it a part of our healthy life.