17. Afternoon naps increase risk of stroke

People used to believe that taking an afternoon nap was good for their health. However, according to a new report, daytime dozing may actually harm our health, especially in the elderly. A team of American researchers told the recent International Stroke Conference that older people who regularly napped were more likely to suffer a stroke. Their research showed that “some dozing” increased the risk of a stroke by up to 2.6 times, compared with those who never took naps. “Significant dozing” meant the risk was 4.5 times higher. The researchers said that the habit of napping may be an early warning sign of a future stroke. The team leader, Dr Bernadette Boden-Albala advised doctors to keep a check on older people who often dozed off. She said: “If patients are moderately or significantly dozing, physicians need to think about sending them for further evaluation." In the two-and-a-half-year study, the team asked 2,000 people how often they dozed off in different situations. These included while watching TV, sitting and chatting to someone, relaxing after lunch, and stopping in traffic while driving. All the participants were aged 40 or above and none had previously suffered a stroke. The team’s findings were adjusted to take into account traditional stroke risk factors, such as age, race, gender, education, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and levels of exercise. Dr Boden-Albala suggested we need to question what is healthiest for us, saying “sleepiness obviously puts us at risk of stroke". She added this was important to ask because other studies show that people do not get enough sleep, which makes them constantly tired. The study’s findings may not be comfortable reading for those in countries where siestas are common.

18. Museum of Laziness opens in Colombia

A new museum entirely dedicated to laziness has opened in Colombia’s capital, Bogota. But, you have to hurry if you want to see the exhibits and find out about being lazy because the exhibition lasts for only one week. The unusual show has displays that include a whole range of sofas, beds, hammocks, futons and anything that lets you take the weight off your feet. There are also plenty of televisions for visiting couch potatoes to watch while they lounge around in the museum. The museum’s opening so soon after the holiday season is no coincidence. The idea is for people to think about laziness, and perhaps change their behaviour and lifestyle throughout the rest of the year. It is a hands on, or we should say bottoms on, way of making us think about laziness in our high-speed, fast-paced societies.

The museum’s curator Marcela Arrieta said she wanted people to have a rethink about laziness and decide whether it really is a bad thing. She told the Associated Press news agency: "We always think about laziness as an enemy of work.” Ms Arrieta may not be leading a revolution for a shorter working week, but she could have a point in that we might just be designed to need more down time than our jobs allow us. Avoiding the pressures and stresses of work and chilling out more may even make us healthier and live longer. Arrieta explained that the exhibition aims to “make people think about the social issues implied in taking a nap, in being jobless or in feeling that maybe we are wasting time.” Try out her advice for yourself; take the weight off your feet, put your feet up, and think about being lazy.