Instead we have high demand for coffee and high-powered energy drinks packed with stimulants. This is certainly an “un-American” notion, as we prefer powering through that postlunch dip in alertness that comes from a combination of a response to a soporific meal, morning caffeine wearing off, and the timing of our circadian clock. This is a great cross-cultural issue as there is one part of “civilization” that allows time for siestas, creating time for rest, family and love in the afternoon even during workdays. Do power naps make up for the healthy aging benefits and resilience needed for health, or am I missing out on those by not getting the solid foundation in longer stretches overnight? - Phil Evans, Huntersville, N.C.Ī. I have trouble getting a good night’s sleep and need a late afternoon nap to get through the evening. Because of the volume of questions, not all may be answered. We will post a final set of responses next week. Buxton is a researcher, not a physician, and he emphasizes that his responses should not take the place of recommendations from your health care provider.) He received his doctorate from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He studies chronic sleep deficiency in the workplace and home and how it contributes to disorders like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Buxton is an associate neuroscientist in the Division of Sleep Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, as well as an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. Because of the volume of questions, not all may be answered.ĭr. More than 200 people sent questions ( most can be read here). Orfeu Marcello Buxton, a neuroscientist, has been answering reader questions about sleep deficiency.

The sooey pill