A half-hour nap after a sleepless night is enough for the disturbed functions of the endocrine and immune systems to return to normal, reads the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Researchers from the Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité (France) have shown that a 30-minute nap during the day restores the normal levels of norepinephrine (stress hormone) and interleukin 6 (pro-inflammatory cytokine) in the bodies of men who slept too little during the night (2 hours). ).
The researchers twice invited 11 healthy, well-rested men between the ages of 25 and 32 to spend the night in the laboratory. During each of the two sessions, the subjects were forced to limit the time of night rest to just 2 hours. However, the second time – as compensation – they were allowed to take a half-hour nap during the day.
Based on the analysis of urine and saliva samples, the researchers concluded that sleep deprivation caused a significant (2,5-fold) increase in the concentration of norepinephrine – a hormone responsible for the response to stress and causing an acceleration of the heartbeat and an increase in blood pressure and sugar levels in the body. . Lack of sleep also led to a decrease in the level of interleukin 6 – a cytokine that stimulates the immune system to function.
Fortunately, a 30-minute nap was enough for the concentration of the above-mentioned compounds to return to normal levels.
It seems that a nap is a good way to counter the negative effects of sleep deprivation as it supports the regeneration of the immune and neuroendocrine systems, comments co-author Brice Faraut. (PAP)