"What? How can napping affect lifespan?"
When Lao Zhang heard the news, he immediately felt a burst of panic.
As a 60-year-old retiree, napping has been his "good habit" for many years!
Could it be that this habit would steal his life quietly?
Lao Zhang came to my clinic with a heavy heart and asked me about the pros and cons of napping.
As a geriatrician, I do have a lot of research on sleep problems in the elderly.
I asked Lao Zhang to sit down and patiently listened to him talk about his nap habits.
Since his retirement, Lao Zhang has slept for two or three hours at noon every day. At first, he felt that his energy was very good, but lately he has been feeling dizzy and his memory is also declining.
Seeing that news report, Lao Zhang was even more restless, for fear that one day he would "sleep" and leave.
I comforted Lao Zhang and said: "
The nap itself is not scary, the key is to master the 'degree'.
A moderate nap can relieve fatigue and increase alertness, which is beneficial to physical and mental health. But excessive napping, especially after the age of 50, can bring a range of health risks. "
I explained to Lao Zhang that after the age of 50, people's biological clocks begin to change. Taking a nap for too long can interfere with sleep at night, leading to problems such as difficulty falling asleep, dreaming and waking up easily. In the long run, it will lead to a series of problems such as insomnia and cognitive decline.
In addition, prolonged napping may also increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Some studies have found that napping for more than 1 hour will significantly increase the incidence of heart disease and stroke. This may be related to fluctuations in blood pressure after napping.
Hearing this, Lao Zhang couldn't help but gasp. He looked back on his recent physical condition, and it seemed to confirm my claim. It seems that it is urgent to get rid of bad napping habits.
I encouraged Lao Zhang to say: "
To improve napping, the most important thing is to grasp the 'three don'ts': don't sleep too long, don't sleep too late, and don't sleep too deeply.
Generally speaking, the nap time is 20-30 minutes, preferably at 1-2 o'clock in the afternoon, and the sleep depth is mainly light sleep. This allows you to get a good rest without affecting your night's sleep. "
I further suggest that Lao Zhang, in addition to adjusting the nap time, should also pay attention to exercise, cultivate hobbies, and maintain a regular schedule.
Moderate physical activity can improve sleep quality and improve cognitive function. A rich spare time life can keep your body and mind in the best condition.
Lao Zhang nodded again and again, deeply agreeing with my suggestion. He said that he will strictly control the nap time and use an active lifestyle to welcome the "golden years" of health.
Before leaving, he said gratefully, "Thank you, doctor, for waking me up." I must tell these valuable suggestions to my old friends, so that we can enjoy a healthy and happy old age together!"
Bidding farewell to Lao Zhang, I fell into deep thought. Among my elderly patients, there are many people like Lao Zhang who are troubled by napping problems.
Many people mistakenly think that they can "catch up on sleep" after retirement, but they don't know that excessive napping will steal their health and happiness.
As a geriatrician, I feel a great responsibility. I want to use my knowledge and experience to help every elderly friend and spread the correct concept of health preservation. Only by treating napping scientifically can we truly protect the physical and mental health of the elderly.
Lao Zhang's story once again sounded the alarm bell to us:
Napping is a good remedy for health, but if you are not careful, it may become a "bane" that endangers your health.
Especially for middle-aged and elderly people over 50 years old, we must always be vigilant about the "degree" of napping.
Whether it's napping or any other lifestyle habits, we must look at it comprehensively and dialectically, and we must not be obsessed. Only by following science, respecting nature, and conforming to the rhythm of the biological clock can we truly have a healthy body and a happy state of mind.
Let's work hand in hand, starting from the nap, starting from the daily life, and jointly create a positive, healthy and optimistic life in old age! As a doctor, I will not forget my original intention, and use my perseverance and perseverance to light up the happy life of every elderly friend! Let's work together with wisdom and action to open a better tomorrow of health and longevity!