A NASA study on sleepy military pilots and astronauts found that a short power nap improved performance by 34% and alertness 100%.
As you sleep, your body actually repairs and restores itself. “Think of sleep as the tune-up you need to run smoothly,” says David M. Rapoport, MD. Rapoport is director of the Sleep Medicine Program at NYU Langone Medical Center. When you sleep, your brain sorts through all the information it took in throughout out the day “It decides what to store and what to toss,” Rapoport says. “The important details become memories you can call upon later”.
As you nap, your brain triggers the release of hormones that encourage tissue growth. This can help you recover from injuries such as cuts or even sore muscles from your last workout. Your body actually makes more white blood cells that attack viruses, bacteria and reduces stress hormones which may curb inflammation, reported from the Center for Sleep Disorders at Loyola University Medical Center.
Naps have great benefits for all adults, but they can be especially helpful for people with PD who may not get quality sleep at night.
Here are 10 reasons why taking a “Parkinson’s Power Nap” is a good thing.
- Boosts Energy
- Improves Memory
- Repairs Tissues
- Relaxes Tight Muscles Resulting from PD Rigidity or Tremor
- Improves Creativity
- Increases Alertness
- Increases Productivity
- Lowers Stress
- Reduces Inflammation
- Reduces Mistakes and Accidents
The ideal length of a nap is 10-20 minutes to refresh the body and improve cognition. Napping longer or too late in the day can adversely affect the quality or quantity of your nighttime sleep.
Beware of post-nap impairment or sleep inertia, the feeling of grogginess and disorientation that can come with awakening from a deep sleep. This state usually only lasts for a few minutes to a half-hour, it can be detrimental to those who are already sleep deprived. This is usually results from naps longer than 30 minutes and can lead to bad falls.
If you are drowsy don’t drive, it is considered as dangerous as driving under the influence. If you feel sleepy while driving, pull over and take a short power nap. Even 5 minutes can do the trick.