why is it unhealthy to take naps during the day?

Answer 1

Because employers get less work out of their employees - that's the only reason I can think of why a culture would deter people from the practice.

Peace!

Answer 2

It is not bad to take a nap during the day!

However, healthy people should not take long naps because it alters how their body perceives time and may cause them to change their daily body rhythms. This could lead to more and more trouble falling asleep at night and a desire to sleep more and more during the day.

A healthy person with a normal schedule (i.e. sleep at night, work/school during the day) can benefit from what is called a "power nap". If you had too late a night last night and it fees like the afternoon is dragging, a power nap can refresh you without altering your normal sleep rhythm. A power nap or "cat nap" lasts 10-30 minutes and the person napping never enters deep sleep. Most people only enter the preliminary stage of sleep during one of these naps.

If you find that a 30 minute nap is not enough to feel refreshed, then you need to think about your sleep schedule. Most Americans get less than 6.5 hours of sleep each night. While a person can get by doing this once a week or so, having that little sleep every night is not enough for the body to recharge. A healthy person needs at least 8 hours of sleep every night.

Now that I have discussed sleep for the healthy, I should mention that people who have chronic illnesses like Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, and even Rheumatoid Arthritis should increase their sleep per night. The time the body is asleep is the only time healing occurs. People with such diseases need more sleep to take care of all the healing their body needs. A person with a chronic disease may find that taking a nap for 1-2 hours 2-3 times a week (in addition to "power naps) may be helpful for healing. However, if at any time the long naps seem to interfere with falling asleep at night, they should be stopped immediately!

Answer 3

Its not. Studies have found that people who nap 15 to 30 minutes in the afternoon, are more alert, more productive and friendlier. Some companies have employee lounges just for this purpose. General Santa Anna required all his soldiers to take a nap, even in the middle of a battle.

Answer 4

Actually it isn't.
A six-year Greek study found that those who took a 30-minute siesta at least three times a week had a 37% lower risk of heart-related death.

The researchers took into account ill health, age, and whether people were physically active.

Experts said napping might help people to relax, reducing their stress levels.

It is known that countries where siestas are common tend to have lower levels of heart disease, but studies have shown mixed results.

Answer 5

Who said that it was? My Grandmother lived to be 94 and she took a nap every day after lunch for about 1-2 hours.

Answer 6

Anything more than a twenty minute power nap will slow the metabolism down, and if you make it habit, the metabolism continually slows. This can be the onset of overweight or obesity.

Note - This doesn't work the same way in infants and young children; they still need their naps.

Answer 7

I dont think its unhealthy, but if you sleep during the day you wont sleep at night. Plus if you sleep durning the day you miss out on whats going on around you. Maybe if you take naps it ruins your usually habit of sleeping at night.

Answer 8

It's not, UNLESS it interferes with your nighttime sleep. A short catnap of 30 minutes during the day really does nothing hurtful (unless it's at work or school of course. They tend to disagree with the nap-is-a-good-thing concept).

Answer 9

For whom? for me it's very healthy. I am one of few people who can take a nap an still sleep well at night and proud of it.

Answer 10

Probably because you get less quality sleep at night. In your naps you probably aren't reaching the REM sleep cycle, but you're still staying up later.