There are many ways to know the status of your health, and you can begin by understanding your sleeping habits.
As part of the Vital Signs program, CNN has just shared a good guide on sleep and health.
The article begins by a note on sleeping in during weekends? Is it good or bad? Many people love to extend their sleep on weekends as a way of compensating for the early rises and insufficient sleep in the remaining days of the week. However, this behavior is often called social jet lag and sleep binging, which may do more harm than good since it can disrupt the natural sleep cycle. This may also explain why many will struggle to wake up and feel energized come Monday.
The good news is that it's possible to make up for sleep deficiency. The only advice is you don't do it once or in a short period such as sleeping in during weekends. Rather, any lost hours can be spread over a number of days, say, a week. Once the deficiency has already been covered, one should try to get enough sleep every day.
Are you a huge fan of napping? According to the article, it can be good or bad, depending on the length of the nap, the frequency, and even the geographical conventions with regard to napping. Initially, napping is great since it helps reenergize the body and the mind, making them more alert. However, naps should be limited to no more than 30 minutes. Otherwise, it may be difficult to sleep at night.
Consistent regular napping isn't entirely bad unless you still long to nap despite getting the ideal hours of sleep, which is around 7 to 8 for adults. Naps that last for hours or that occur even when napping isn't really the area's norm may indicate a potential health problem such as chronic fatigue or sleep apnea. It can also mean a thyroid disorder or even cancer.
