I tried to sleep this morning during the day. Bad mistake, I woke up feeling as bad as hell. For some reason, if you want to sleep during the day, you mustn't have the window closed. And the throbbing headaches and seas of sweat didn't stop until iftar. I won't be doing that again.
But is sleeping during the day actually doing you good, or is it actually harming you? Although it does pass time, studies have shown that there is a harmful side to taking naps. A study at Buffalo University shows that sleeping more than your recommended eight hours a day is bad for you. And not just that, it also increases ones chances of stroke!
If you sleep more than eight hours a night, snore or regularly are drowsy during the day, you may be at an increased risk of stroke, University at Buffalo researchers have found.
These results from the Western New York Stroke Screening Study, presented in Fort Lauderdale today at the American Stroke Association's 26th International Stroke Conference, showed that people who regularly slept more than eight hours a night had 9 percent more strokes than those who slept less.
Persons who regularly were sleepy during the day showed a 10 percent increase in stroke, compared to those who didn't experience daytime somnolence.
The study also showed that people who regularly feel sleepy during the day (ahem ahem), are also included in the risk. But at the same time, other studies show that lack of sleep is also bad for you, causing strokes and memory loss.
Sleep disorders are not just embarrassing to sufferers, but potentially life-threatening and experts believe that people are not receiving an accurate diagnosis in the UK.
Sleep disorders in turn cause excessive sleepiness, which affects about 6% of adults or 3.5 million people in the UK.
People with sleep apnoea and hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS), which cause people to wake up many times during the night, are at higher risk of developing an excessive sleepiness condition because they get fragmented, poor-quality sleep.
The condition is also associated with Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Consequences of untreated OSAHS include strokes, mood problems, impotence and memory loss.
So, in your opinion, is it right to sleep during the day to pass time by, and if not, what should we spend our time doing?
[Sources: Science Blog, BBC News]
A compromise, sleep 6 hours at night, and nap 2 hours during the dya, in Ramadan the last 2 hours before iftar would be ideal for fasters.
ReplyDeleteActually, 8 hours sleep time every night is more than what you need. You need between 5-6 hours every night and if you can sleep 30 - 45 minutes at the noon time, that would be great for you. Sleeping after noon time (after 4 pm) is very bad.
ReplyDeleteProphet Mohammed PBUH recommended having a short nap but that is supposed to be after Duhor prayer, between Duhor and Aser prayer.
Another thing i have been thinking about lately, that your body adjust it self to how many hours you sleep. We all know that great leaders sleep only 4 hours or even less and still, they accomplish more than we do, i think its adjustment.
Hani: Its hard fasting and sleeping, since you wake up feeling sick and very hungry.
ReplyDeleteBilal: Hmm, well said. =)
I'm the worst, since I'm not working or in classes now (just papers) I'm sleeping equal amounts inthe day as I do at night (4-5 hours each), it's horrible though because I'm always tired and out of energy and never feel rested!
ReplyDeletei used to believe that my body can't function on less than 8 hours of sleep... not any more! i'm surviving on 4 hours at night & 10-15 min (if i'm lucky)nap during the day. having said that, kids & teenagers need to get minimum of 8 hours as their bodies are growing at a very high rate. sweet dreams khaled :)
ReplyDeleteI slept 14 hours last night ^^
ReplyDeleteI usually sleep less than 8 hours a day, I will try to equlaize my sleeping times.
Assom: You should still try to take more at night than at day. We are humans, not owls!
ReplyDeleteMum: I will never try sleeping at daytime again. EVER!
Nizar: ZOMG! 14 hours is a lot! Talk about 4-5 hours a night! :D
If you sleep in order to let the time pass, then you have a problem, and you need either to get to do more work or find a hobby. Time is your most precious asset, and is a thousand times more important than money. You should sleep in order to have energy to use your time in a meaningful way, not to sleep just to let the time pass.
ReplyDeleteSleeping during the day is not bad if you don't overdo it. If you work hard and you take some brief 15-20min naps this will help you achieve better. But sleeping all day is a problem, as it can damage your internal clock. Light can be used to reset your clock, and you should take care to get lots of light during the day and spend the night without light.