Napping Does a Body Good

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Contrary to popular opinion, napping isn't just for the lazy. Harvard researchers say naps can help us be more productive at work, and even make us healthier.

Dragging through your day? NASA sleep researchers found a 26-minute nap boosts performance by 34 percent. It also improves mood, alertness and reduces lapses in performance.

"Sleep is as important as being awake," Robert Thornton, M.D., a sleep medicine specialist at the Florida Hospital Center for Sleep Disorders in Orlando, Fla., told Ivanhoe.

A Harvard study shows midday napping cuts your risk of heart attack by more than a third. It also has a positive effect on blood flow to the memory areas of the brain.

Thirty-four percent of americans take a nap on a typical day. Researchers say a 20 minute power snooze should do the job, but a 50 to 90 minute nap is good for improving vision and hearing skills.

"We don't typically get quite as much deep sleep as we do when we're younger," Dr. Thornton said.

Now just to convince your boss to replace that afternoon meeting with a siesta.

Experts say napping longer than three hours may interfere with nighttime sleep. The best time to nap is between one and three p.m. because at that time of day the hormone melatonin rises, causing energy levels to drop.