A Nap Really Can Improve Health
By Tom Herrin
It is no secret that people often allow their health to be endangered by lack of sleep. In the effort to get more done or stretch the hours in the day just a bit, many borrow from some of the things that are essential for good health. That is sleep. This borrowing may become robbery when they don't find some way to pay it back. When people are short on sleep, they are running substantial risks. The good thing is that they can recover some of that. A nap can actually make up for more lost sleep than many realize, and it doesn't have to be all that long.
It May Be Good for the Heart
When people fail to get enough sleep, they may be putting themselves in danger of having heart issues. It seems that lack of sleep for even one night can cause the blood vessels to become stiff. This means that they will not have the flexibility needed for blood pressure to maintain a normal level. Excessive numbers of sleepless nights could be trouble. The other side of that is that once people get adequate sleep, this flexibility can return to normal. Using naps wisely can be a great way to balance health.
It May Make You More Pleasant Company
When people go without enough sleep, they can be pretty miserable for others to deal with. Those who are really tired may be irritable and short with others. They often exhibit more prejudices because they have less patience. Taking a good nap when needed may make a relationship much better. People may be more likable and others may find them better company. It is easy to see why some people may become loners if they don't sleep as they should. The common phrase that someone needs a nap may have some substance to it.
It May Help People Stay in Touch with Reality
Most of us have had times when we have been so tired that we see things. A University of California at Irvine study found that when people are sleep deprived, they may see images that are not really there. They seem to have difficulty knowing when something is actually there and when they have read something and then believed they saw it similar to the mirages of stories of those stranded in deserts. A nap can be invaluable in helping to maintain our ability to have full awareness.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Corpus Christi, Tex.
