Rejuvinating Siesta

Prologue

The time is an hour past noon, the carbohydrates from lunch invaded my splanchnic system and started to cook under medium fire. My mind feels heavy and my eyelids start to droop. My body knows that it is just proper to give in to this earthly desire to nap.

 

Explained from geographical location

 

The siesta or midday nap is quite common in countries with warm weather. Countries such as China, Vietnam. Bangladesh, India, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Malta, the middle east, and north Africa. Of course, the parent country, being Spain is the mother of this traditional sleep.

 

Originally from?

 

The word siesta rooted from the Latin hora sexta, meaning, “the sixth hour,” counting form dawn to noon. This was then adopted in Spanish as siesta (pronounced: sjesta). This is a short nap taken in the early afternoon.

 

Try to explicate scientifically

 

Our biological functions are synched with our daily activities, such as what occurs after a heavy lunch. The blood sugar elevates specially right after a large carbohydrate meal, there will be a normal rise of insulin to counter this effect, therefore, reducing the blood sugar level. This form of hypoglycemia is called, post-prandial dip. The effect of which, is drowsiness and an irresistible urge to nap.

 

Beneficial Duration

 

Improved mood, memory, and judgment are just some of the beneficial effects of an afternoon nap. The optimum time ranges from 10 to 20 minutes, longer than that will cause sleep inertia.

 

Side Effects

 

Drowsy, groggy, and decrease in performance are caused after sleeping for an hour or so in the afternoon (medically termed: sleep inertia). This is probably the cause of waking up in the deep processes of sleep.

 

Furthermore, the later you take a nap during the day, the more it will interfere with your nighttime sleep.

 Epilogue

As you slowly follow the rhythm on this pleasurable event, your eyes close and your mind stops to think for a few moments, the sandman blows a handful of dust upon your face and gently rocks you to sleepdom (kingdom of sleep) even just for a while.