Undoubtedly you have heard of the body's circadian rhythms that regulate such functions as metabolism, alertness and sleep patterns. However, physicians understand that the body has at least two circadian systems: one originating in a specific...
Sleep is an important part of staying healthy, but circadian rhythm disorder can stop your body from achieving the proper amount of sleep. If you are afflicted with this condition, you need to know how your biological clock works and how it is...
The circadian rhythm is a "biological clock" that governs physical, mental and behavioral changes -- including the rate of your heart -- on a roughly 24-hour clock. It is controlled by a group of interacting molecules in the cells throughout the...
Aerobic exercise offers a number of positive benefits for your health and well being. Not only can it improve your cardiovascular health, musculature and vitality, aerobic exercise can also improve your sleeping cycle. If you are looking to get...
Circadian rhythm sleep disturbances are characterized by a lack of synchronization between your internal sleep cycle and the normal social or environmental 24-hour clock. Advanced sleep phase syndrome, or ASPS, manifests as a need to go to sleep...
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences explains that circadian rhythms are significant in regulating sleep patterns. Circadian rhythm refers to the patterns of mental, physical and behavior change that occur in a daily cycle in...
The word "endurance" refers to your body's ability to participate in a demanding activity for an extended period of time. The primary way to increase the amount of time you can endure is to practice and regularly challenge your body....
There are multiple benefits to working out in the morning. First, those who exercise before starting their day have a higher likelihood of sticking to their exercise plan. Also, "The New York Times" reports that people who exercise before...
Individuals that work in shifts at night have a higher incidence of heart disease. This risk has been linked to the body's production of the hormone melatonin. Commonly referred to as the "sleep hormone" that controls the body's...
If you are an elite athlete, the time of day you perform can be a critical factor in winning or losing. Most people are at their athletic peak, in terms of speed and strength, in the late afternoon and early evening. Most are at their lowest ebb...
Sleep hygiene refers essentially to the actions you take prior to going to bed at night. People with advanced sleep phase disorder may neglect certain sleep rituals because they fall asleep so much earlier in the evening. The ritual may include...
According to a 2004 Bureau of Labor Statistics research study, about 15 million Americans work an evening or night shift, a rotating shift or some other varied schedule. Most people with hectic, varied work schedules will agree that this can take...
The timing of your workout sessions may have a direct bearing on the effectiveness of the activity. Your body undergoes a number of cyclical changes, called circadian rhythms, throughout the day -- under the control of the hypothalamus gland....
Vitamin B-12 deficiencies can cause dementia, psychosis and mood disturbances. These symptoms can appear in some people when their B-12 levels are only slightly lower than normal and well above those considered indicative of anemia. Because...
While a morning weight training workout can be an invigorating start to your day, some people prefer to pump iron in the evening. While your time restrictions and personal preference for the time of day you choose to lift weights might come into...
If you've ever heard a choir of crickets begin to chirp as the sun sets, you've experienced firsthand an example of nature's circadian rhythm. Plants and animals -- including humans -- have an internal daily clock that helps to govern behavior and...
Your eye pressure is a measurement of the fluid, called aqueous humor, that fills the anterior chamber of your eye. Too much fluid might lead to damage and possible vision loss, a disease called glaucoma. Your doctor will work with you to reduce...
Parents often go to extraordinary lengths to ensure that their little ones are tucked into bed at an early hour. Conventional wisdom maintains that an early bedtime paves the way for a good night’s sleep, which in turn is essential for...
Work can be incredibly stressful, even for those on the low end of the responsibility scale. The mailroom can sometimes be as stressful as the boardroom. When there's a lot to get done, or when there's a potential crisis to sort out, it can take a...
Human growth hormone, or HGH, is natural;y formed in the pituitary gland and plays an important role in growth and development throughout childhood and adolescence. During adulthood, HGH continues to play a significant, though lesser role, helping...
Sleeping patterns in babies are quite different from those in infants, toddlers and older children. Newborn babies sleep about 16 to 17 hours a day in brief stints of one to two hours, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP. Your...
Many people suffer from sleep disorders that prevent them from getting a good night's sleep. If you have a sleep disorder, you may have considered taking a sleep aid supplement to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. While they may be beneficial,...
Geting a good night's sleep is crucial to health and longevity. However, insomnia and related disorders of the sleep-wake cycle all too common. This cycle--which is about 25 hours on average--governs the flow of neurotransmitters in the brain,...
Your natural sleep-wake cycle is affected by a number of factors. Certain issues, such as age and exposure to light, influence melatonin, a hormone produced by your body that acts as a signal for the sleep-wake cycle. If you have difficulty...
Depression is a chronic psychiatric disease that causes people to have abnormally low mood and self-esteem and to lose pleasure in activities that they formerly enjoyed. Some people treat depression using supplements, such as melatonin. If you are...
Weight loss is achieved by creating a calorie deficit, in which the number of calories burned is greater than the number of calories consumed. The best way to create a calorie deficit is to combine moderate calorie intake with a maximally...
Melatonin is a compound that is produced by the body in the presence of light. It is also available as an over-the-counter supplement. Melatonin has been identified as a player in the role of bipolar disorder. However, do not attempt to prevent,...
Daytime sleepiness can often be attributed to taking certain types of medications or ingesting chemicals such as caffeine or nicotine. The cause of daytime sleepiness may not always be this simple, however. Because daytime sleepiness can interfere...
Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is required in most organisms at several stages of metabolism, such as glucose metabolism, and as a regulator of neuro-muscular communication. All organisms use thiamine, but it is only synthesized in bacteria,...
