Sunday, April 5, 2009

Your Circadian Rhythm -Is It Keeping You Awake?

By Harold Ulvaeus

Your circadian rhythm and it's level of function is closely connected to insomnia. While it is commonly believed that the circadian rhythm has to do with the time of day, it has a lot to do with the amount of light or darkness. We all have a clock inside that gives us a nudge when it is time to go to sleep for the night and when it is time to get up.

It is this internal clock that is known as the circadian rhythm. Hormones secreted through out the day are governed by this internal clock, and so are body temperature and our level of mental alertness.

Our circadian rhythms are partially responsible for us having lots of energy during some parts of the day yet feeling sluggish and tired at other times of the day. Many people who have a sleep disorder related to their circadian rhythm tend to feel tired when they should be wide awake. People who work at night or keep odd hours are the most common sufferers of this type of sleep disorder.

Light is one of the most influential factor in regulating your circadian rhythm. When there are long periods of low levels of light there is a tendency to feel more fatigued and suffer from low energy. This is very common in the winter, especially in the northern areas where there is only a few hours of light per day.

Correcting sleep disorders caused by, or related to, your circadian rhythm can be done by light therapy specially designed to slowly reset your circadian rhythm. The light is delivered from what is called a "light box" which has the correct wavelengths of light. 30-60 minutes of exposure to the light in conjunction with a strict sleep schedule explains the therapy.

The time of day you use your light box is the most important thing to consider. The schedule would depend on your schedule and the type of insomnia you have. - 14130

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