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CAREGIVER QUARTERLY
The Official Newsletter of Partners In Care
(Winter/Spring 09) |
Greetings!
Thank you for subscribing to our e-newsletter. Please continue to help spread the word about Partners In Care.
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Take It to Heart
Presented by
Sunrise Senior Living Communities of Charlotte
& Partners In Care
Join our team of experts to help educate, engage and promote a healthy lifestyle!
We will have:
- MD Cardiologists to discuss and educate individuals about general cardiovascular health
- Fitness expert to promote heart healthy activities
- Sunrise Chef with diet tips and free samples
- Medical professionals will offer free blood screenings
DATE: February 10, 2009
Time & Location: 5:30 - 7pm
Sunrise on Providence
5114 Providence Rd
704-365-5252
DATE: February 17, 2009
Time & Location: 11:30-1pm
Brighton Gardens of Charlotte
6000 Park South Drive
704-643-1400
DATE: February 24, 2009
Time & Location: 5:30 - 7pm
Sunrise at South Charlotte
5515 Rea Road
704-544-2094
Featuring presentations from:
Mecklenburg Medical Group Cardiology Physicians
- Dr. David Framm, MD
- Dr. Richard F. Miller, MD
- Dr. K. Dale Owen, Jr.,MD
CMC Health Center-Harris YMCA
Sunrise Senior Living Communities Chefs
Refreshments are provided by the hosting facility.
Hosted by: Sunrise Senior Living and Partners In Care
For more information please call the specific location and ask for the Director of Community Relations.
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The
Short Story on Napping
More than 85% of mammalian species are polyphasic sleepers, meaning that they sleep for short periods throughout the day. Humans are part of the minority of monophasic sleepers, meaning that our days are divided into two distinct periods, one for sleep and one for wakefulness. However, it is not clear that this is the natural sleep pattern of humans. Young children and elderly persons nap, for example, and napping is a very important aspect of many cultures.
As a nation, the United States appears to be becoming more and more sleep-deprived. And it may be our busy lifestyle that keeps us from napping. While naps do not necessarily make up for inadequate or poor quality nighttime sleep, a short nap of 20-40 minutes can help to improve mood, alertness and performance. Nappers are in good company: Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Napoleon, Albert Einstein, and Thomas Edison are known to have valued an afternoon nap.
Types of Naps
There are three basic types of naps:
Planned napping (also called preparatory napping) involves taking a nap before you actually get sleepy. You may use this technique when you know that you will be up later than your normal bed time or as a mechanism to ward off getting tired earlier.
Emergency napping occurs when you are suddenly very tired and cannot continue with the activity you were originally engaged in. This type of nap can be used to combat drowsy driving or fatigue while using heavy and dangerous machinery.
Habitual napping is practiced when a person takes a nap at the same time each day. Young children may fall asleep at about the same time each afternoon or an adult might take a short nap after lunch each day.
Tips for Good Napping
The right length: A short nap is usually recommended (20-40 minutes) for short-term alertness. This type of nap provides significant benefit for improved alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy or interfering with nighttime sleep.
The right environment: Your surroundings can greatly impact your ability to fall asleep. Make sure that you have a restful place to lie down and that the temperature in the room is comfortable. Try to limit the amount of noise heard and the extent of the light filtering in. While some studies have shown that just spending time in bed can be beneficial, it is better to try to catch some zzz's.
The right time: Plan to take your nap at a good time in your daily sleep-wake cycle; for most, sometime between noon and 4 pm is best.
Benefits of Napping
Naps can restore alertness, enhance performance, and reduce mistakes and accidents. A study at NASA on sleepy military pilots and astronauts found that a 40-minute nap improved performance by 34% and alertness 100%.
Naps can increase alertness in the period directly following the nap and may extend alertness a few hours later in the day.
Scheduled napping has also been prescribed for those who are affected by narcolepsy.
Napping has psychological benefits. A nap can be a pleasant luxury, a mini-vacation. It can provide an easy way to get some relaxation and rejuvenation.
Negative Effects of Napping
Sleep inertia is defined as the feeling of grogginess and disorientation that can come with awakening from a deep sleep. While this state usually only lasts for a few minutes to a half-hour, it can be detrimental to those who must perform immediately after waking from a napping period.
Napping can also have a negative effect on other sleeping periods. A long nap or a nap taken too late in the day may adversely affect the length and quality of nighttime sleep.
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