The Pros and Cons of Napping
Daytime resting: helpful or harmful?
Getting some sleep, even a short afternoon nap, may seem like a good thing for people with sleep disorders. But for those with insomnia and an already decreased desire to sleep at night, midday shut-eye can actually be counterproductive. So before you curl up on the couch this afternoon, consider whether your quick fix might backfire when you lie down in bed tonight.
Trouble sleeping at night
If you have insomnia, naps present a problem, even if you feel tired during the day. Napping during the day can perpetuate bad sleep habits for people with temporary sleep issues caused by stress, illness, or jet lag too.
“Even just a little bit of a power nap reduces your night time sleep drive,” says Ralph Downey III, PhD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Califoria. “The nap becomes nothing more than another episode of fragmented sleep.”
Getting through the day
If you don’t have a problem getting your z’s at night, a quick nap can work wonders to pull you through a tiresome or sleep-deprived day. In fact, a 2008 study found that a 45-minute daytime nap can improve memory function. And previous studies have found that naps can lower blood pressure.
Those who suffer from narcolepsy or shift-work syndrome may also benefit from daytime naps, says James Wyatt, PhD, director of the Sleep Disorders Service and Research Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Fatigue could be a warning sign
If you’re constantly fighting the urge to sleep during the day and falling asleep instantly at night, you might have obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which you stop breathing while you sleep.
In this case, naps won’t help. By wearing a continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) machine that flows oxygen through your nose, however, you’ll likely sleep more soundly and wake refreshed whether from a good night’s rest or a quick catnap.
【小题1】If you suffer from insomnia________.| A．midday shut-eye may be helpful |
| B．a short afternoon nap is probably a good thing |
| C．napping during the day is considered a good habit |
| D．a little bit of a power nap decreases your night time sleep desire |
| A．who have a problem falling into sleep at night |
| B．whose memory is not good enough |
| C．who suffer from shift-work syndrome |
| D．whose blood pressure is too high |
| A．naps are helpful for those who have obstructive sleep apnea |
| B．more oxygen through your nose might improve sleep quality |
| C．a 45-minute daytime nap can be beneficial for those with insomnia |
| D．a quick nap can pull everyone through a sleep-deprived day |
