Taking Siesta Improves Memory, Cognitional Functions: Swiss Study

A newly published study in Switzerland proves that taking a siesta after having lunch improves memory and the cognitional functions and prevents some serious diseases from invading the human body.

Physicians and clinicians in the hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland University have examined habits of sleep of 3400 volunteers    of age 35-75 years.

The researchers spent five years to follow those people. The results of that study appeared on The American Heart Association Journal (AHAJ).

The researchers said that those who take siesta harvest more benefits such as preventing from contracting heart diseases, problems of blood vessels, strokes.

Siesta-takers are higher protected by 48% of the diseases of heart compared with other people.

Dr. Lucilla Prado, Pediatrician of  the Department of Scientific Sleep in the Brazilin  Academy and a participant in authoring the study, said that siesta compensates the stress for people who do not sleep sufficiently at night.

She added that siesta benefits the heart and brain, especially for old-aged people.

It participates at ameliorating functions of cognition because it gives the brain rest which it needs very much.

The seniors often suffer from sporadic sleep at night which affects negatively all functions of the main organs of the body so some people lose the ability to concentrate.

The Brazilian pediatrician pointed out that the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had supervised an experiment to examine the positive effects of siesta on aeronauts who got 20 minutes after having lunch.

They were examined after six months off the experiment. Researchers found the ability of aeronauts to thinking and memorizing rose by 34% at least.

However, their ability to make correct decisions rose by 54%. Dr. Rosilin Rusha, neurologist at the university hospital, assured the suitable period of siesta should extend to two hours and a half.

The best time to take siesta should be between 1 pm and 3 pm. She recommends that the adult person should sleep for eight hours and it is preferable to be at night.