Recent studies of British researchers suggest sleeping during daytime actually disrupts up to one third of your gene's rhythm. An experiment that lasted three days was conducted with 22 healthy volunteers in a dim-lit sleep lab. On the first night, volunteers' circadian rhythm was reset by being subjected to interruptions during regular sleeping cycles. Blood samples were taken and about 6 percent of genes that were analyzed found to be in sync with the new circadian rhythm researchers have set. In the following two days the subjects were put on a 28 hour schedule, with the longest sleep cycle being 6 hours and 30 minutes. Only about one percent of genes analyzed were in sync after the third night. This drastic change is greater than the amount of gene rhythm altered in sleep deprivation study, where the gene percentage only dropped about 2 percent.
Sleeping studies have always been intriguing to me. It is an act that we perform almost every single day, except perhaps when we approach finals week. On average, human sleeps 25 years during its life time, which is almost one third of its life. It is important to understand why we must spend so much of our precious time on earth in bed and how sleeping relates to our well-being. This research is significant to people who work long and odd hours and those who simply does not have a sleeping schedule. Altering gene rhythm means changing the schedule of when proteins are produced and ultimately changing our behavior.
Source: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20140121/sleep-during-the-day-may-throw-genes-into-disarray
Support Article: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/05/22/peds.2012-2284
Wow, this was definitely very interesting to read. Mostly because I am an avid napper. Most of this napping is the only way I will be able to stay up and do my homework. I will definitely have to rethink my naps from now on.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Amanda, I love my naps as well. With school, work, friends, clubs and activities I find myself especially this year going to bed later, waking up earlier and needing more naps throughout the day. I will need to do more research on studies like this before I rethink leaving naps behind for good. I believe if it becomes part of your sleeping pattern in your daily routine, the effects would not be the same as in this study. I guess it all depends on your body's adaptability.
ReplyDeleteI always thought naps were healthy and important, as long as they were short and not too often, as an avid napper as well I live for my naps after a busy morning before my I go to work. I definitely will be rethinking that nap time and focus on getting a good nights rest instead.
ReplyDeleteThis defiantly opened my eyes about napping especially that I as well love to nap. My life seems so busy that when I have time all i want to do is sleep. Guess ill have to rethink that next time i take a nap.
ReplyDeleteI found this interesting because I can relate to it; without naps, it would be difficult to make it through a long day of classes and exams. Now I will keep the effect of napping and circadian rhythm in mind, as well as trying to get enough sleep each night. I didn't know that napping can have such an effect.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense because your body is on a clock, and it's meant to be awake and asleep at certain times. When you mess with the rhythm, it'll mess things up. I notice that after I nap sometimes I feel even worse than I did before and it affected my sleep a lot, so this makes a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteI like how the concept of a biological clock can be altered by changing the way someone sleeps. I can see another good reason to exercise before bed and keep my clock stable. Maybe having a class schedule that is not focused on intervals is the best way to keep my brain/body in shape and awake!
ReplyDeleteI've always thought that a short nap (no more than 30 minutes) was good for re-energizing and staying focused during the day. In the long run, I guess naps really aren't good for you. Sometimes I don't know what to believe when it comes to health advice like this.
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