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Daytime Naps Help Performance |
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Written by Superhuman
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Wednesday, 23 January 2008 |
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Sleep loss decreases the performance of the nervous system and generates inflammatory chemicals linked to hardening of the arteries, heart attack, and stoke.
Poor sleep habits also increase cortisol levels (a catabolic hormone), which suppress the immune system. Researchers from the Penn State College of Medicine found that taking a 2-hour nap during the day following a good night’s sleep resulted in lower cortisol levels, feeling more rested, improved neural function and lower levels of inflammatory chemicals compared to people who didn’t nap. This study has important implications for athletes. For example, if you were going to train or compete at 4 p.m., you might benefit from a nap between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Many athletes burn out from pre-game activity. They might be better off taking a nap. (American Journal Physiology Endocrinology Metabolism, 292: E253-E261, 2007)
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