Beauty Sleep Could Be Real, Say Body Clock Biologists

AHA Publisher — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 08:00:41 +0000

University of Manchester via Science Daily – Biologists have explained for the first time why having a good night’s sleep really could prepare us for the rigors of the day ahead. To read the original article and learn more about this research, click here.

The post Beauty Sleep Could Be Real, Say Body Clock Biologists appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Daylight Saving Time Has Long-term Effects on Health

AHA Publisher — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 08:00:52 +0000

Vanderbilt University Medical Center via Newswise – The annual transition to and from daylight saving time (DST) has clinical implications that last longer than the days where clocks “fall back” or “spring forward.” Over time, DST eliminates bright morning light that critically synchronizes biologic clocks, which can be associated with increased risk of heart attack and ischemic stroke, as well as other negative effects of partial sleep deprivation. Average sleep duration shrinks by 15 to 20 minutes for adults during DST transitions, which may also increase the risk of fatal accidents. “People think the one-hour transition is no big deal, that they can get over this in a day, but what they don’t realize is their biological clock is out of sync,” said Beth Ann Malow, MD, Burry Chair in Cognitive Childhood Development, and professor of Neurology and Pediatrics in the Sleep Disorders Division at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “It’s not one hour twice a year. It’s a misalignment of our biologic clocks for eight months of the year. When we talk about DST and the relationship to light, we are talking about profound impacts on the biological clock, which is a structure rooted in the brain. It impacts brain functions such as energy levels and alertness,” she said. Malow and colleagues published a JAMA Neurology commentary today recapping large epidemiological studies that advocate for ending the practice of setting clocks forward or back. Some people may have more flexible circadian rhythms and adjust quickly while others are more sensitive. Malow, an expert on autism and sleep, said that the transition impacts some children with autism for weeks or months. While the sleep and circadian communities believe returning to standard time may be more biologically appropriate, gaining political buy-in for a nationwide change remains a challenge. State legislation is “all over the map,” with some states considering a return to standard time and others in favor of permanent DST. Tennessee has passed legislation supporting permanent DST, although such a change would require action from the U.S. Congress. To read the original article click here.

The post Daylight Saving Time Has Long-term Effects on Health appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

body clock Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Beauty Sleep Could Be Real, Say Body Clock Biologists

Daylight Saving Time Has Long-term Effects on Health