MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'circadian rhythms'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:30:15 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2757405&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fchemotherapy-causes-sleep-problems-in.html A study published this week shows that chemotherapy for Breast Cancer, a disease with which approximately 210,000 women are diagnosed each year, impairs sleep-wake cycles in patients. Sleep disturbances can negatively affect treatment and increase risks for other health and mental problems. Results indicate that chemotherapy patients switched from low to high activity about 30 minutes later in the day and decreased their level of activity about 50 minutes earlier at night during their first round of chemotherapy, suggesting that their days were shorter. The study involved 95 women with an average age of 51 years, who were scheduled to receive chemotherapy for stage I-III Breast Cancer. Of the participants, 75 percent were Caucasian, 69 percent were married, 77 percent had at least som... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2757405 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:54:00 +0100 2757405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2605726&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fgeorge-dawes-greens-free-running.html What would life be like if your sleep and wake times drifted later every day? How hard would it be if you began falling asleep in the morning, then in the afternoon, then in the evening as weeks went by?Just ask George Dawes Green, best-selling author of The Juror. USA Today describes how he sleeps around the clock because of this rare sleep disorder.It is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder that is known by many names. It is called “free-running type” or “nonentrained type.” Sometimes it is called “non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome” or “hypernychthemeral syndrome.”The disorder is closely related to light and darkness.Normally people have a circadian rhythm that is longer than 24 hours. But during the day and at night regular timing cues reset the body clock to a 24-hour schedu... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2605726 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:23:00 +0100 2605726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2463635&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Frisk-of-depression-in-evening-types-and.html A new study examines how chronotype may be related to depression. Is the risk of depression greater in “evening types” (“night owls”) or “morning types” (“morning larks”)?The study involved 200 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 99 years. Results show that people who are “evening types” have a higher risk of severe depressive symptoms.MSNBC reports that evening types went to bed around midnight; morning types went to bed around 11 p.m. and woke up about 40 minutes earlier. Total sleep time was about the same for the two groups.The study was unable to show if sleep schedule causes depression. But it suggests that going to bed and waking up a little earlier could improve your mood.Yet making a change may not be easy; your DNA has a strong influence on when you pref... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2463635 Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:35:00 +0100 2463635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2456967&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fnba-finals-west-coast-advantage-for.html Game one of the NBA Finals between the Lakers and Magic will tip off a little after 9 p.m. EDT tonight. The Lakers will have the home-court advantage in the seven-game series; a study in the journal Sleep shows that they also may have a West Coast advantage.The study analyzed 8,495 regular-season NBA games over eight seasons. The researchers did not find that jet lag had a major influence on the outcome of games.But then they did a sub-analysis of 101 games in which one team traveled across the country to play. In these games, the visiting team did four points better when they traveled west to east rather than east to west.This may not sound like a big difference. But during the last season studied, there was only a 3.2-point difference between winners and losers in NBA games. Four points ... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2456967 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:36:00 +0100 2456967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405414&cid=t_125309_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F13%2Fextended-periods-of-sunlight-might-act-as-suicide-trigger%2F Midweek Mental Greening People often associate becoming depressed during dark winter months with Seasonal Affective Disorder (or, SAD). SAD can actually affect people during any season, including the bright and sunny days during spring and summer months; however, according to a recent Swedish study, regardless of the similar symptoms, SAD doesn’t seem to be the culprit when it comes to the high number of suicides happening in places that experience extended sunlight like Sweden and Greenland. The researchers speculated that light-generated imbalances in serotonin — the brain chemical linked to mood — may lead to increased impulsiveness that in combination with a lack of sleep drives people to kill themselves. “We found that suicides were almost exclusively violent and incre... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405414 Wed, 13 May 2009 17:54:56 +0100 2405414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2375329&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fmorning-larks-vs-night-owls-circadian.html People who are larks function better in the morning. Night owls are more alert in the evening. But which “chronotype” enables people to function better over the length of a day?A new study in Science takes a look. It involved 16 early morning risers and 15 night owls. They performed alertness tests in a brain scanner after following their normal sleep schedule.Newsweek and Science report that both groups performed well when they took the test 1.5 hours after waking. But the night owls pulled ahead when both groups were tested after being awake for 10.5 hours. They were more alert and had faster reaction times. Overall their performance improved by about 6 percent.So do night owls have a natural alertness advantage over morning larks? Not necessarily.Health News points out that an advan... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2375329 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:29:00 +0100 2375329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364342&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fhow-children-affect-mothers-sleep-wake.html Some women may have a natural tendency to be a “night owl.” But a new study shows that their sleep-wake rhythm may change after they have children.The study involved 179 women. Some were mothers, some were pregnant, and some had no children.Results show that women with children are more likely to be “morning types.” This means they would have a stronger tendency to go to bed early and wake up early.The study found that mothers woke up about 1.5 hours earlier on weekends. Women with children also reported falling asleep faster than the other women.Which group of women got the most sleep? The women who were pregnant had the longest average sleep duration.Learn more about the many complex factors that can affect a woman’s sleep. (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364342 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:55:00 +0100 2364342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2357552&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fwhats-your-chronotype-understanding.html A New York Times column examines the factors that contribute to your preferred sleep schedule. This is also called your “chronotype.” It turns out that your DNA has a strong influence on when you like to sleep.Some people have a circadian clock that makes them “evening types.” These “owls” have a natural tendency to stay up late at night and sleep late in the morning. Children tend to become night owls as teens because of a shift in the timing of their circadian clocks.Some night owls have delayed sleep phase disorder. This involves a struggle to conform to work or social demands. It can be difficult for them to function well during the day.Other people are natural “morning types.” These “larks” prefer to go to bed early and wake up early. Adults often become larks as t... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2357552 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:43:00 +0100 2357552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2329675&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fresearch-catching-up-to-jet-lag.html Results from a new study in Current Biology may lead to more effective treatments for jet lag and shift work sleep disorder.Both sleep disorders involve a disruption to your body’s circadian timing system. This system regulates the timing of when you sleep and wake.The study shows that this disruption occurs in two separate groups of neurons in the brain. It also involves two different sleep stages.Both groups of neurons are located in the “suprachiasmatic nucleus.” This part of the brain acts as a body clock. It regulates daily functions such as body temperature, hormone levels and sleepiness.The study found that one set of neurons is closely linked with slow wave sleep. This is also called “deep sleep.” These neurons receive light information directly from the eyes. With these ... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2329675 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:07:00 +0100 2329675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2329680&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fin-control-of-sleep.html An article in the April issue of The Scientist examines how the body controls the sleep/wake cycle. Much is now known about the brain’s “master clock.” But studies are showing that this circadian clock isn’t in complete control of sleep. Other molecular mechanisms can override its signals when we are forced to stay awake.Thus sleep may have biological functions that are beyond the control of the circadian clock. “It is clear,” writes the author, “that there are many factors affecting sleep.”Read the article to find out more. (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2329680 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:23:00 +0100 2329680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2299075&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fwomen-shift-work-and-breast-cancer.html BBC News reports that some women in Denmark who developed breast cancer after years of working night shifts are receiving compensation from the government.Is there a clear link between shift work and breast cancer?A 2008 review found only limited evidence. Yet there was enough data to convince the International Agency for Research on Cancer.The IARC convened a working group in 2007. It was composed of 24 scientists from 10 countries. The experts reviewed all of the research.They concluded that working night shifts is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” This means that shift work may be a factor “that can increase the risk of human cancer.”The report was the basis for the Danish government’s compensation program. So far almost 40 women have received payment through the program.How ... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2299075 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:38:00 +0100 2299075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2224735&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fbegin-to-spring-forward-before-march-8.html Are you planning ahead for the change to daylight saving time on Sunday, March 8? You should.Sleep experts advise you to go to bed 15 or 20 minutes earlier each night before the time change. This will give your body time to adjust.You may be thinking, “It’s only an hour. What’s the big deal?”Well, the one-hour time change may affect you more than you realize. Consider these research findings:New England Journal of Medicine: Heart attacks are significantly increased for the first three weekdays after the transition to daylight saving time in the spring. The authors suggest that the best explanation for this risk is that the time change causes sleep deprivation.BMC Physiology: The transition in and out of daylight saving time disrupts sleep and enhances restlessness. Springing forwar... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2224735 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:31:00 +0100 2224735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770843&cid=t_125309_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F384206750%2F With summer drawing to a close and schools starting up for a new season, what better time to take a look at how schools utilize research about the brain in determining the timing of the flow of school. Not only current brain research, but common sense, tells me the following areas need tweaking. - School start times and sleep - Exposure to natural light - Scheduling of classes SCHOOL START TIMES AND SLEEP Left to your own devices, what time would you go to sleep each evening and what time would you wake up? As adults, it is likely that external responsibilities determine your wake time, and the maturity of age guides your sleep time. More often than not, thanks to a sound night’s sleep, you wake mentally refreshed and prepared to face the day. Teenagers are simply out of luck in this r... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770843 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:05:33 +0100 1770843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=683123&cid=t_125309_146_f&fid=34960&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fcircadian-rhythms.html USAToday has a nice article today about circadian rhythms, with the final part of the article focusing on the possible role of circadian rhythm disturbance in bipolar disorder:In people, circadian rhythm disorders can trigger serious problems, notably depression. Seasonally affective disorder is a winter depression tied to a lack of the sunlight cues that trigger the SCN into proper rhythm.Also, there are indications that bipolar disorder also involves circadian problems, McClung says. This disorder causes unusual shifts in mood and energy, with episodes varying between extremes and afflicting some 5.7 million people nationwide, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. "People might sleep all the time or not sleep at all," says McClung. Body temperatures and hormone levels sim... sleepdoctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=683123 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:45:00 +0100 683123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=676735&cid=t_125309_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fare-you-awake-blue-light-special.html Blue light special-Blue light resets body rhythms for sounder sleep, higher alertness,Harvard Gazette, 2003When light has you singing the blues:Blue light outshone white in a Harvard University experiment to find better ways to reset our body clocks."After 6.5 hours of exposure, blue light readjusted their body clock by 3 hours, green light by about 1.5 hours. If you normally feel your eyelids getting heavy at 11 p.m., a 6.5-hour dose of blue light might keep you alert until 2 a.m. If a change in shift leaves you sleepless at 4 a.m., blue light might help you sleep three hours longer. (Which way the shift goes depends on when the light exposure takes place.)""Our study opens the door to both understanding how humans and other organisms adjust to the planet's rhythms, and how we can practic... soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=676735 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 04:04:00 +0100 676735