Siestas and Your Health

It seems like it would be common knowledge that getting enough sleep would be good for your health, but many studies have been conducted to show the correlation between napping and one's health. Some have found that taking a nap is good for your health while others have found that they can have negative effects. In a study conducted in Greece, the scientists discovered that siestas could help prevent coronary disease. On the other side of this, a study in Costa Rica reported that people who take long, daily naps are more likely to get coronary disease then those who take a siesta once a week. Some people argue that the long time of inactivity is what isn't good for your health. Another problem is the waking up. When someone wakes up a person's blood pressure and heart rate rises. There have been a lot of studies that argue both sides of what siestas can do for your health. In a recent study from Harvard, they found that people who took regular 30-minute naps were 37 percent less likely to die of heart disease over a six-year period than those who never napped.

Quick Facts:

Mediterranean adults die of heart disease at a rate lower than Americans and Northern Europeans

Napping is more likely than diet or physical activity to lower the incidence of heart attacks and other life-ending heart ailments

People who napped for more than an hour were 32 percent more likely to have died than non-nappers

According to the National Sleep Foundation, to have the most successful siesta, nap in an quiet place with low light and a comfortable temperature

A siesta should last no longer than 15 to 30 minutes

Saying Adios to Siestas

Recently a lot of countries that take siestas are no longer doing so. Why is this? Some people say it's because these countries are changing to try and keep up with the fast paced, all work and no play attitude that most Americans have. A lot of local people who have participated in siestas over the years in these countries say that they don't even need a siesta. It only makes their work day longer and makes their bedtime even later. Europe's unemployment is at an all time high and one way they're trying to solve this issue is getting rid of siestas and extending work days to boost productivity. In a recent article, a sleep expert says that getting rid of the siesta won't boost productivity; "working longer doesn't mean working harder". He doesn't think getting rid of it will increase people's sleep, but in fact cause them to sleep less. He also discusses that breaks increase productivity. The brain can only focus on a task for so long so the siesta gives the brain a break so people can continue to be productive.