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12/20/2007: "Making Time for Naps"
Whoever said it was a dog’s life, never spent time with a cat. I am constantly amazed at how much our cat sleeps. Most cats sleep at least 16 hours a day. That’s 2/3 of their day spent in bed! Throw in a couple hours of lap sitting for pets and attention plus a few hours hunting outside (which mostly involves patiently waiting), and you have a pretty mellow life.
I have to say; one of the best benefits of going on disability is the ability to take afternoon naps. I never used to be “into” naps as there was usually too much to cram into each day. But as part of my effort to recover and stay healthy, I have added a daily nap and it sure feels good. With email, the Internet, TiVo and the morning commute taking longer these days, it seems that we tend to stay up later and get up earlier. Coffee is a national past time and energy drink sales are going through the roof.
I remember listening to Art Linkletter only a couple of years ago. He claimed that the key to his longevity (he is 95 and going strong) was that he made sure he got at least 9 hours of sleep each night. Recent studies indicate that failing to get enough sleep increases your risk for a variety of major illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Some studies are showing that sleep disruption affects crucial hormones and proteins that play a part in these diseases. Experts agree that most people need between seven and nine hours sleep, with studies indicating that an increased risk for disease starts to kick in when people get less than six or seven. Also, sleep deprivation can cause chronic low-grade inflammation that can lead to cardiovascular trouble and other life shortening issues.
If you have a strange schedule or have trouble sleeping, you may consider using Melatonin. My research on cancer shows that Melatonin can help in the fight. According to Dr. Eva S. Schernhammer of Harvard Medical School, who has conducted a series of studies on volunteers in sleep laboratories, "Melatonin can prevent tumor cells from growing -- it's cancer-protective.” I’ve been prescribed some sleep medication when I was having trouble but I now only use Melatonin to help me fall asleep.
So with the coming holidays, I hope you take the time to sleep in a little and/or scoot the cat over and enjoy a nice nap when you can.