Napping habits of a person can signal more about their health

Napping can have significant health implications, with short, timed naps offering benefits like improved memory, mood and reduced stress

A short nap after lunch can be deeply refreshing. Known to improve memory, uplift mood and even lower blood pressure. However, how much is too much, and could napping habits at irregular timings be harmful?

Taking a nap for a short period can have many positive effects on an individual’s health. It can help boost memory, improve cognitive performance and increase alertness, says Dr Viswesvaran Balasubramanian, consultant interventional pulmonology and sleep medicine, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad in a interview with Happiest health publication. “Some studies link napping to reduced stress and improved immunity,” he adds.

Small, timed naps can be a great tool to reboot the brain. Long or late naps, however, may disturb overall sleep architecture. Waking up before sliding into deep sleep mode, napping for longer durations can lead to grogginess and disturbed sleep patterns. “This thereby affects one’s ability to fall asleep at night, leading to prolonged daytime sleepiness,” Beyond 3 pm, naps may interfere with nighttime sleep, leading to a vicious cycle of drowsiness and poor rest. “The full sleep-wake cycle is 60 to 90 minutes. Naps between 10 to 20 minutes are often called power naps,”says Dr Balasubramanian.

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