Naps as a therapeutic aid
There is clinical evidence that frequent naps scheduled throughout the day can do much to offset excessive daytime sleepiness. In a study conducted by Stanford University Sleep Research Centre, patients who took six ten-minute naps spaced evenly through the day experienced beneficial effects on their alertness and performance.
It is important to remember, however, that guidelines for naps should be established by working closely with the individual patient, paying close attention to the recurring times of greatest sleepiness, their schedule of medication and the demands of their environment.
The goal is for the patient to control their sleepiness and recurring need for brief 'micro-sleeps'. Naps as short as putting one's head on a desk or closing one's eyes for a few minutes may actually prevent 'sleep attacks'. An effective schedule of daytime naps supplemented by as many 'mini-sleeps' as the patient can fit into his schedule, can also reduce sleepiness and the need for medication. Since the development of tolerance to medication may become a patient's most serious problem, naps are a very valuable therapeutic tool. Indeed, effective napping may reduce the need for medication.
A word of warning in establishing a nap schedule: patients often underestimate their sleepiness. The newly-diagnosed patient is probably more aware of relative degrees of sleepiness than he is of the maximum level of alertness he could achieve. The patient may insist that a nap is not necessary because they feel less overwhelmingly sleepy than they feel at other times. A 'nap diary' plus continued interaction with the physician are important tools in establishing a schedule which is truly effective. As the patient becomes accustomed to greater alertness and learns more about observing their sleep needs, the nap schedule can be revised and improved.