Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: moccacake on 01/01/2007 08:30:56
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During the day, people are physically active and at night they go to sleep or if they do something they can't do it as actively as they can do it during the day, is this related to the presence of sunlight during the day?
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I have more energy at night and feel almost as if I could run marathons at night . I have always been backwards.. have trouble sleeping at night.. and find I get more done then then I would in the day time, although generally I work 8 hours a day and then come home and am up most all night..
I don't know if the sunlight has anything to do with it or if it is what you get used to for your own body.. I am a night owl!
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When our bodies sense the the sun is going down through the reduction of sunlight it releases a chemical called melatonin from the pineal gland which tells our bodies its time to slow down and eventually sleep .
Melatonin is also an antioxidant which helps repair damage to your cells right down to its DNA structure
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For some people their body clocks are screwed !!...one of these conditions is called Phased Delay Syndrome and in a lot of cases a course of melatonin tablets should help to correct it...
What about peeople who live near the poles and endure very long nights and days ?
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There are some people with a ~35 hour clock. When forced into society that is a 24 hour rhythm I am at a very, very big disadvantage. It is 1:14 PM and I am trying to wake up, type and find the keys on the keyboard while drinking away all my profits in Floggers Coffee Co.
And I was in bed by 10:30 last year and slept all the way to this year. I do not go out on New Year's Eve. There are too many amature drunks on the road.
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When our bodies sense the the sun is going down through the reduction of sunlight it releases a chemical called melatonin from the pineal gland which tells our bodies its time to slow down and eventually sleep .
Melatonin is also an antioxidant which helps repair damage to your cells right down to its DNA structure
So For People Like Neil, or myself who prefer cooler climates and not as much sun, at least for me I am not in the direct sun alot duing the day I seek out the shadier areas. Could this effect my ability to not produce the Meletonin that I need to sleep?
Whoops Neil sorry, I tried to quote you and accidently edited yours.. I sent it back sorry! I have never heard of that condition before. Thats a new one for me. I must say that question is a good one, How do these people cope with the days like that? I have heard stories about hih rates of depression and such in those areas where the light is so short and the nights are forever long!!
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When our bodies sense the the sun is going down through the reduction of sunlight it releases a chemical called melatonin from the pineal gland which tells our bodies its time to slow down and eventually sleep .
Melatonin is also an antioxidant which helps repair damage to your cells right down to its DNA structure
So For People Like Neil, or myself who prefer cooler climates and not as much sun, at least for me I am not in the direct sun alot duing the day I seek out the shadier areas. Could this effect my ability to not produce the Meletonin that I need to sleep?
Whoops Neil sorry, I tried to quote you and accidently edited yours.. I sent it back sorry! I have never heard of that condition before. Thats a new one for me. I must say that question is a good one, How do these people cope with the days like that? I have heard stories about hih rates of depression and such in those areas where the light is so short and the nights are forever long!!
Sorry karen but I dont know :). I do know though that as you get older the body can have trouble producing it
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People in Alaska who get very little sun somedays go to tanning booths to get some exposure to light...high depression and very high suicide rates there....
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There is a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that is depression during the shorter/darker days of winter. Exposure to sunlight (eg going outside at lunchtime or using a special lamp) can help alleviate/overcome this problem.
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I have heard of that and often wonder about it!! I have seen the lights used for light therapy and actually had a doctor recommend it for me, several years ago.. I have yet to try it!