Circadian Rhythm

All About Circadian Rhythm

The circadian rhythm is an idea that has been around for thousands of years. It explained why we feel the way we feel throughout our days. Every organ and every cell on our body has a circadian rhythm. The circadian clock turns on & off thousands of genes at the right time of the day or night.

In this article, you will understand:

• What is Circadian Rhythm?
• How Does Circadian Rhythm Works?
• How Does Circadian Rhythm Affect Sleep?
• What happens when Circadian Rhythm is Off?
• How to maintain a healthy Circadian Rhythm?

What is Circadian Rhythm?

A circadian rhythm is a natural cycle of physical, mental, and behavior changes and is linked to your body's internal clock and your sleep/wake cycle. There are a number of examples of circadian rhythm such as the sleep-wake cycle, body temperature cycle, and the cycle in which the number of hormones is secreted.

Circadian rhythm is directly influenced by your environment, especially light, that is why circadian rhythms are tied to the cycle of the day & night.

How Does Circadian Rhythm Works?

Circadian rhythm works by helping to make sure that body function is optimized at various points during a 24 hour period.

The term circadian means around the day.

Circadian rhythm is found in all types of organisms, human, animal, and non- living creatures.

For example, circadian rhythm help flower opens & close at the right time and keep animal from leaving their shelter during the day when they would be exposed to more predator.

The hormones like melatonin and cortisol play an important role to increase or decrease circadian rhythm. 

How Does Circadian Rhythm Affect Sleep?

When we talk about circadian rhythm it most often in the context of the sleep-awake cycle. The sleep-awake cycle is one of the clearest & critical examples of the importance of circadian rhythm. During the day and light exposure causes us to send a signal that generates alertness and help keep us awake and active. At night, the master clock initiates the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep and then keeps transmitting a signal that helps us stay asleep through the night.

In this manner, the circadian rhythm aligns our sleep and wakeless day and night.

What happens when Circadian Rhythm is Off?

When your body doesn't start functioning properly then it means that your circadian rhythm is thrown off. A disturbed sleep-awake circadian rhythm can give rise to a serious sleeping problem. Witout the proper function of your body biological clock a person cant fall asleep wake up at night and can't sleep as on as they want in the morning. People low quality sleep pattern disrupted their circadian rhythm.

How to maintain a healthy Circadian Rhythm?

We can maintain a healthy circadian rhythm if we start optimizing our 24-hour sleep cycle.

Some of the tips to maintain a healthy circadian rhythm.

• Get Some Sun- Exposure to the sun for at least 15 minutes every morning can help you wake up and feel refreshed. Vitamin D from the sun is very important for overall well being.
• Eat healthy Breakfast- Eat healthy breakfast every morning can give you strength and entry to get on with your day.
• Daily Exercise- Exercising every morning can help you feel energetic every day and better sleep at night.
• Less Stress- A big reason for waking late in the morning is due to the stress of the whole day. Start organizing and manage your stress can cane your mindset and improve your mind.
• Set your Sleeping Time-When you set your bed routine it will improve your circadian rhythm. Always be in bed at the same time can improve your sleep.