National Napping Day: Could a 10 Minute Mid-Afternoon Nap Change Your Life?

Contrary to what most people say that napping is linked to being lazy, taking a quick snooze on mid-afternoon can boost your brainpower. Experts reveal that taking a nap can cut down the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Medical Daily reports that napping can boost memory and lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Napping also minimizes stress levels and helps stabilize blood pressure. According to the Sleep Foundation, there are different types of naps, and each nap has its own benefit.

Planned Napping

This type of nap involves getting a quick snooze before getting sleepy. It's useful when the individual would like to extend his or her sleeping hours. It works by signaling the brain to function in an extended period of time.

Emergency Napping

This usually occurs when an individual would suddenly feel sleepy and would need a quick snooze. Emergency napping is useful when the brain is awfully tired and can no longer function productively. It is like a quick charge for the brain to continue to its original function in terms of processing information. This type of nap is normally used by individuals that operate heavy machinery. It helps in cognitive function, wherein it is beneficial to fight drowsiness while driving and fatigue.

Habitual Napping

It is usually used when a person makes it a habit of dosing off at the same time every day. Habitual napping is usually applicable to babies, toddlers and adults that are taking a quick snooze after lunch.

In addition to the said benefits of napping, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism cited other perks of taking a quick nap. The study says that naps could strengthen the immune system and compensate the lack of night's sleep. 

"Napping may offer a way to counter the damaging effects of sleep restriction by helping the immune and neuroendocrine systems to recover," according to the study's lead author, Brice Faraut, per Medical Daily.