I quoted Linda Woolf as saying:
> > >
> > > Napping is not a norm and should be avoided.
And she replied:
>
> Nothing like taking something out of context. Napping is to be avoided for
> daytime sleepiness resulting from sleep difficulties associated with old
> age. You'll remember that this was the context of the statement concerning
> naps - older adults "shunt some sleep time into napping" to make up for less
> sleep at night.
>
> If a older adult is frequently needing naps as a function of daytime
> sleepiness, this is a sign of a sleep difficulty and not normative. There
> are numerous causes ranging from poor sleep habits to drug side effects to
> arthritis problems. Thus, if you see an older adult frequently falling
> asleep in their chair or on the couch, this is a sign of a potential
> problem.
Well, it may be picking a nit, but the original statement said nothing
about _frequent_ napping but condemned napping of any kind ("napping
is not a norm and should be avoided"). Certainly there's a point where
napping should be considered excessive, whether by the elderly or
anyone, and its cause investigated, This is different from just
telling people that it should be "avoided". But when is it too much?
And what is meant by "poor sleep habits"?
I suspect that what is of primary concern here is that if you nap
during the day, you'll have more difficulty getting to sleep at night.
But is that necessarily a "problem"? It is if there are important
reasons why you have to get your sleep time at night, such as working
a nine-to-five job that requires early rising. But if you're an
elderly retired person who can sleep in in the morning, why the
concern about getting your sleep only at night? Requiring that people
fight off naps and remain drowsy and inalert during the day solely to
ensure continuous nighttime sleep doesn't seem justifiable to me.
Rather than labeling this a "problem" and an indication of "poor sleep
habits". I'd say the proper response is to reassure the person and
point out that a normal consequence of daytime napping is less sleep
at night. If this is ok with them, then it's not a problem. I'd say
"If you feel sleepy, there's nothing wrong with having a nap if it
makes you feel more alert. Just remember that if you do, you may get
to sleep later at night.
The source cited by Linda said:
> "The sleep cycle includes dreamless periods of light and deep sleep,
> with occasional periods of active dreaming (REM sleep)."
My comment was:
> > > They got that wrong, too.
and Linda said:
> I'll let someone more knowledgeable address the above. Most basic texts
> discuss the four stages of non-REM sleep (which would include light and deep
> sleep) plus Rem. I know we had a discussion previously whether dreams do
> occur outside of REM. Was there a definitive answer regarding this? I
> know the TIPS sleep expert lurker is on vacation in Seattle. Otherwise, I'd
> ask him. We could probably also discuss whether REM is a stage of deep
> sleep.
My comment objected to the labeling of REM sleep as isomorphic with
dreaming and the remainder as "dreamless". There's no controversy
here: the claim is unquestionably wrong. It's simple empirical
evidence that dream reports have been collected after awakenings from
NREM sleep. The controversy, what there remains of it, is whether the
these reports after NREM awakenings differ in any significant way from
those collected after REM awakenings. Those involved in the original
claims that REM sleep = dreaming still maintain this; others argue
otherwise.
>
> My guess is that as the authors were addressing a lay audience, they were
> presented the stages of sleep in its most basic form.
No one should any longer be telling people that REM sleep _is_
dreaming sleep, not if they want their information to be
scientifically correct, that is. Misinformation isn't more acceptable
because it's for a lay audience.
This sounds more cranky than I actually am. It must be time for my
nap.
-Stephen
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470
Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661
Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lennoxville, QC
J1M 1Z7
Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
