The Sleep Scientists and I

Regular readers of this blog might well think that I obsess over the naps that I take. However, the evidence for the benefits of naps keeps growing.

Yet another group of scientists is reporting that naps “can help relieve stress and bolster the immune system,” for those who don’t sleep well at night.

Researchers analyzed the participants’ urine and saliva to determine how restricted sleep and napping altered hormone levels. After a night of limited sleep, the men had a 2.5-fold increase in levels of norepinephrine, a hormone and neurotransmitter involved in the body’s fight-or-flight response to stress. Norepinephrine increases the body’s heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar. Researchers found no change in norepinephrine levels when the men had napped following a night of limited sleep.

Lack of sleep also affected the levels of interleukin-6, a protein with antiviral properties, found in the subjects’ saliva. The levels dropped after a night of restricted sleep, but remained normal when the subjects were allowed to nap. The changes suggest naps can be beneficial for the immune system.

As you know, I am a sucker for naps and take them whenever I can, so I don’t need this kind of reinforcement. But I would strongly suggest that those negotiating labour agreements might want to use this evidence for instituting regular nap times at work. It is a health and welfare issue after all.