Would You Rather Sleep or Exercise?
By Tom Herrin
People may wonder what it would take for them to improve their health. It is a common question, but many feel they already know the answer. Recognizing what they are not doing is a lot of finding the answer. Not eating right and not exercising are two things that often come to the top of the list as possible causes of health issues. What does not come to mind as often is a lack of sleep. Lots of people are guilty of burning the candle at both ends. On the surface, it sounds like a great way to get more done, but the bottom line is that inadequate sleep can be detrimental to health. A good way to turn that around is a good nap at the right place and time. A nap can do several good things.
It Could Improve Relationships
Most people realize that lack of sleep can be big trouble for getting along. According to some research from the University of California, Berkeley, as little as one night of poor sleep can intensify the levels of arguments between couples. It is believed that the lack of sleep makes people less accurate at reading other people's emotions. Fitting in that nap here may make that other person much more tolerable and appealing.
It Could Protect the Heart
A British study found that one night of poor sleep could cause blood vessels to have less flexibility. That means that they will not expand as needed to help blood pressure to remain in a good range. It would stand to reason that continued days of this could increase the chance of heart problems. The best news here is that good sleep can begin to turn that around quickly. That could be in the form of a good nap, and it can be a short one.
It Can Sharpen Your Senses
According to more information from UC Berkeley, there is a direct correlation between the hours we sleep and our alertness in that the more hours we are awake, the less alert we will be. It found that those who had insufficient sleep were more subject to distraction and less likely to be successful at learning. We probably all knew that, but this is confirmation and more good reason to get that nap in. From my experience, that nap can be brief and make a world of difference in my overall mental function.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Goleta, Calif.