A Field Guide to Naps

[Sleep2Die4]

Article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... DSLEEP0902

Don't forget the CPAP!

[Christine L]

Interesting. So I should either take a short nap or a long nap. The medium naps mess you up.

[Iowamv]

What caught my eye is this: "For conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea, napping isn't recommended."

Is that true? I was planning on sneaking in a nap this afternoon! Drat.

[Christine L]

[quote]What caught my eye is this: "For conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea, napping isn't recommended."

Is that true? I was planning on sneaking in a nap this afternoon! Drat.[quote]


Well, I think for sleep apnea they mean taking a nap without CPAP.

On days I am really sleepy I can take a nap (with CPAP) and still sleep well that night.

I read in this forum one time that some sleep doctors who used to tell patients not to nap are now telling them to take a nap (with CPAP) if they are very sleepy. Their new thinking is that naps for very tired people might prevent some heart attacks.

[KarenK]

I still regret all those naps I did not take as a kid - before Kindergarten, when my mother wanted me to to nap with her [so she could get a nap] and in Kindergarten, on those little rugs, I did not nap either. Wish I could get them back.

[robysue]

What caught my eye is this: "For conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea, napping isn't recommended."

Is that true? I was planning on sneaking in a nap this afternoon! Drat.

For insomnia: nap, even a short one, may make it significantly harder to get and stay asleep once bedtime comes.

For apnea: Most napping does NOT take place in the bedroom. (Note that none of the illustrated naps were clearly in the bedroom.) Hence the overall likelyhood that a napping apnea patient will NOT have access to the machine is significant. The tips on where to take a nap (in a parked car, lying under a desk, lying on a couch) are suggestions for how to sneak in a power nap when you're not at home. And for a PAPer, that means no access to the machine since I don't think many of us are going to be willing to pack up the machine and lug it with us on the off chance that we'll have a chance to get a short nap in. And even at home: most nonapneaics take naps on the couch or in the recliner or lying on the living room floor. And unfortunately when you're wanting a nap and the couch looks really, really comfortable, if the machine's in the bedroom you've either got to relocate the machine (which may wake you up enough to make it harder to take a short nap) or you've got to relocate the nap to the bedroom (which takes the spontaneity away from the nap.)

So while I think napping with a PAP is fine, I also think "napping with a PAP" is not always practical. And when "napping with a PAP" is not practical, then "napping" Is probably a bad idea for an apneaic because "napping" will likely be "napping without a PAP". And I think it's this reasoning that's behind the statement: "For conditions like sleep apnea, napping isn't recommended."

[Woody]

Perhaps for some a nap may help there quality of life but this hasn't been my experience.
A little nap soon led me into taking a lot of naps during the day and then i would only sleep
4 or 5 hours at night. I am trying to stop all my daytime naping as at least one webpage on
sleep hygiene recomends.

[Cereal Killer]

taking a lot of naps during the day

Well yes, almost everyone will say that is a problem.

I am trying to stop all my daytime naping as at least one webpage on
sleep hygiene recomends.

I think nearly every article on sleep hygiene says don't take naps during the day. These articles are addressed to people who have trouble sleeping at night.

On mornings I have a good workout I often take a nap after lunch and I sleep very well that night. If I don't workout and then take a nap I don't sleep well that night.

So I know what to do!

I also believe that daytime nap might prevent some heart attacks in people with heart disease. Of course if you have sleep apnea, you should use CPAP while napping!

[johnthomasmacdonald]

thanks, that was quite interesting and useful

[SusieG]

Saturday or Sunday pap-nap.... nothing better!