LONDON (Review of Religions) -- Midday napping, also known as Siesta derives its name from ‘hora sexta’, a Latin term referring to the six hours after dawn.
Siesta is a common practice in the Mediterranean, Southern Europe, Middle East, Indian Sub-continent, and parts of China. In these places, high mid-day temperatures make work uncomfortable. This midday nap is also referred to as Taaseela and Qailulah in Arabic, and controra in Italian.
Midday napping offers numerous benefits, particularly for neurological and cardiovascular health. It enhances alertness and performance, specifically improving executive functions of the brain such as planning, memory retention, and multitasking. [1] [2]. Midday naps effectively aid in the recovery of faculties such as working memory and cognitive abilities, which may decline due to sleep deprivation. [3] A brief midday nap can enhance cognitive abilities and has scientifically proven benefits on tiredness, concentration and attention. [4] [5]
Midday napping offers several cardiovascular health benefits; the siesta habit potentially improves long-term cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of aneurysm rupture. [6] [7] Researchers from the University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland observed 3,400 people aged 35 to 75 for an average of five years. They discovered that those who napped once or twice per week have a lower risk of incident cardiovascular events.
The beneficial effects of midday napping are not limited to adults. Evidence suggests that habitual midday napping enhances the neurocognitive function in early adolescents. Scientific studies show that frequent nappers have higher accuracy in sustained attention and nonverbal reasoning tasks, regardless of night time sleep duration and quality. Short naps also positively affect mood, as observed in a study where midday nappers reported joy and relaxation. In children, napping is associated with higher verbal IQs, improved academic achievements and reduced internalizing behaviors. Additionally, napping is linked to fewer emotional and behavioral problems.
Indeed, there is evidence suggesting that midday napping can positively impact the health of elderly individuals. Ageing alters our sleep patterns, and napping can improve mental and physical well-being. One study discovered that regular napping lowers the prevalence of cognitive frailty and enhances quality of life in the elderly. Short nap durations are linked to a reduced likelihood of hypertension and a lower systolic blood pressure. Furthermore, another study found that midday naps increase alertness, as measured by EEG, and lower diastolic blood pressure. While these findings suggest that regular napping may have benefits for elderly individuals, it is important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the potential effects of napping on this population.
Midday napping, or siesta, has been shown to have several benefits for women, particularly during pregnancy. Research indicates that shorter duration naps can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in mothers with shorter nighttime sleep duration. Napping during the day can also counterbalance the sleep deprivation commonly experienced by pregnant women.
In addition to its benefits for pregnant women, siesta has also been shown to enhance physical performance. Studies have demonstrated that napping prior to an all-night work shift can improve performance over the night and also alleviate the heightened pain sensitivity resulting from sleep deprivation.
Additionally, in athletes, napping prior to training or competition can lead to better performance outcomes. Research on athletes has shown that longer naps, lasting 40 or 90 minutes, are more effective in improving exercise performance and physiological responses.
Sleep has been recognized as an important part of human behavior in the Holy Qur’an, where it is referred to as Sinah, a short duration or Naum, a deeper long duration sleep. Midday napping has been shown to be a practice of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) and Muslims. Anas ibn Malik relates that Muslims used to offer Friday prayers early and have a midday nap afterwards.
The Holy Qur’an mentioned the practice of midday rest and regards it as one of the three times of personal privacy. During these times, it is appropriate for others to seek permission before meeting or seeing you. During this time, individuals have the opportunity to relax and dress casually in the comfort of their privacy.
What science shows is beneficial for us has been taught to Muslim centuries ago to help achieve physical, psychological, emotional as well as spiritual excellence. Nevertheless, napping is not a replacement for a good night’s sleep, and both are important for overall health and well-being.