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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : February 12, 2015 11:02 AM IST
Do you usually feel sleepy in the afternoon and don't mind taking a short nap even if you are at work? There's one more reason for you to do s0. Scientists at the Paris Descartes University in France, have now revealed that cat nap of even half an hour can help relieve stress and strengthen the immune system which has been weakened due to poor sleep as little as two hours the previous night.
Lack of sleep is recognised as a public health problem and it contributes to reduced productivity as well as vehicle and industrial accidents.The study found that napping restores biomarkers of neuroendocrine and immune health to normal levels. (Read: Why a quick afternoon nap is actually good for you)
The relationship between hormones and sleep in a group of 11 healthy men between the ages 25 and 32 were examined. After a night of limited sleep, the men had a 2.5-fold increase in levels of norepinephrine, a hormone and neurotransmitter involved in the body's fight-or-flight response to stress. (Read: Take short naps during the day to boost your memory)
Norepinephrine increases the body's heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar. Researchers found no change in norepinephrine levels when the men had napped following a night of limited sleep. Lack of sleep also affected the levels of interleukin-6, a protein with antiviral properties, found in the subjects' saliva. The levels dropped after a night of restricted sleep, but remained normal when the subjects were allowed to nap. The changes suggest naps can be beneficial for the immune system. (Read: Long naps can boost immune system and help fight infection better)
The study appeared in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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