Poor sleep quality is a common concern for individuals with chronic kidney disease. However, adopting proper napping habits can be a powerful aid in protecting and restoring kidney function.
Doctor Hong Vinh Tuong, a kidney specialist from Taiwan, shared that for kidney patients who frequently experience insomnia, a short nap not only helps them quickly regain mental alertness but also reduces the strain on their kidneys, providing damaged organs with an opportunity to rest and recover.
Why does lying flat during a nap help protect the kidneys?
On his personal page, Doctor Hong Vinh Tuong explained that the key lies in the resting posture. When the body is in a flat, supine position, blood flow returning to the kidneys significantly increases. This enhanced circulation allows the kidneys to filter and eliminate toxins more effectively.
Furthermore, for individuals experiencing poor nighttime sleep, a moderate nap can reduce sympathetic nervous system activity, thereby calming inflammatory responses in the body caused by sleep deprivation. This is a beneficial factor for overall kidney health.
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Lying flat during a nap helps protect the kidneys. *Photo: Duc Trung*
"Golden" napping formula for kidney care
However, longer naps are not necessarily better. To achieve effective kidney care, people must master three core rules: duration, posture, and timing.
Perfect duration: The most ideal nap should last from 20 to 30 minutes. Napping for too long and being awakened from a deep sleep can lead to "sleep inertia," resulting in a dazed feeling upon waking and potentially causing nighttime insomnia.
Correct sleeping posture: Endeavor to maintain a flat position on a bed or recline comfortably in a lounge chair. Doctor Hong particularly emphasized: Absolutely avoid lying face down on a desk. This posture not only compresses abdominal organs but also negatively impacts blood vessel circulation, hindering overall circulation and rendering kidney protection efforts entirely counterproductive.
Appropriate timing: Naps should be scheduled before 14:00. Napping too late can disrupt the nighttime circadian rhythm, leading to a vicious cycle of insomnia.
The expert urged individuals with impaired kidney function to set aside a short time each day to "recharge." Healthy kidneys depend on good sleep.
My Y (According to UDN)
