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Naps Aren't Just for Kids Anymore

Summary & Participants

A little downtime can be a healthy daytime pick-me-up.

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: If you find yourself battling the mid-day slump - but don’t want to pass out under your desk – this could be the answer to your prayers.

NICOLAS RONCO, OWNER, YELO: I used to be a corporate guy myself, and I’ve been looking for a place like this, actually, in New York. When you're in a plane three weeks out of a month, relaxation becomes an absolute necessity as opposed to being a luxury.

ANNOUNCER: Naptime is no longer just for kids. Sleep salons like Yelo cater to maxed-out adults who are willing to pay for the chance to recharge their batteries.

NICOLAS RONCO, OWNER, YELO: The busiest time of the day are between noon and 4 pm. And then we get very busy again between 5 pm and 7 pm. But I have to say that one of the thing that really surprised me were people who wanted to take a nap at 9 pm and they call this the -- the disco nap.

ANNOUNCER: And don’t worry about your boss finding out - since napping may boost your performance on the job.

MARY JO DIMILIA, MD, ASST. PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, MOUNT SINAI: There are a lot of studies, a lot of scientific studies, that show that naps are beneficial. They improve productivity, mental function, motor function as well. There are studies that show that there is a decrease in heart disease in countries that take siesta time on a daily basis and they live that lifestyle

ANNOUNCER: Of course, you don’t want to overdo it.

MARY JO DIMILIA, MD, ASST. PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, MOUNT SINAI: 20 minutes is ideal. If you take too long of a nap and then it's interrupted, you go into a deeper level of sleep and then you're going to feel like you're groggy or hungover.

ANNOUNCER: If you typically have trouble sleeping at night – experts say napping is not for you.

MARY JO DIMILIA, MD, ASST. PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, MOUNT SINAI: If you're chronically sleep deprived, napping may make that situation worse. I tell my patients to not take naps if they're having sleep issues or insomnia or any issue at night, falling asleep or staying asleep. If you sleep during the day, that may really disrupt this whole process of trying to figure it out and get it better.

ANNOUNCER: But if you are just looking for a quick pick-me-up, a little downtime may do the trick. ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.