Health and Wellness

How light tells you when to sleep, focus and poop

Published

4 weeks ago

October 27, 2024

IAM

Light exposure is crucial to our physical and mental health, as this and future articles on this series will show.

But exposure to light can also be key. This tells our body to get up within the morning, when to poop, and what time is best to focus or be alert. When we’re exposed to light, we also control our body temperature, blood pressure, and even the chemical reactions that happen in our body.

But how does our body know when it is time to do all this? What does light have to do with it?

What exactly is the biological clock?

One of the important thing roles of light is to reset our biological clock, also often called the circadian clock. This acts as an internal oscillator, similar to an actual clock that ticks as you read this text.

But as an alternative of a ticking sound that you can hear, the body clock is a network of genes and proteins that regulate one another. This network sends signals to organs via hormones and the nervous system. These complex loops of interaction and communication have a rhythm of roughly 24 hours.

We don’t even have one clock, we have now trillions of biological clocks throughout our bodies. The central clock is positioned within the hypothalamus of the brain, and each cell in each organ has its own clock. These clocks work together to help us adjust to the each day light and dark cycle, adjusting our body functions to the time of day.

However, our biological clock shouldn’t be precise and works in a 24-hour rhythm (on average 24 hours half-hour). Therefore, the central clock needs to be reset every morning, signaling the start of a brand new day. That’s why light is so essential.

The central clock is directly connected to photosensitive cells within the retinas (back of the attention). This each day resetting of the biological clock to the morning light is mandatory for our body to function properly and be synchronized with the environment.

In parallel, when we eat, food also plays a task in resetting the biological clock, but this time the clock in organs apart from the brain, reminiscent of the liver, kidneys and intestines.

So it is simple to see how our each day activities are closely linked to our biological clock. In turn, the biological clock shapes the way in which our body works at certain times of the day.

What time of day?

Matt Garrow/The Conversation.
Adapted from Delos, CC BY

Let’s take a better take a look at sleep

A naturally occurring brain hormone melatonin it’s linked to our central clock and causes us to feel sleepy at certain times of the day. When it’s vibrant, our body stops producing melatonin (its production is inhibited) and we’re alert. Closer to bedtime, a hormone is produced and released, causing a sense of drowsiness.

Our sleep too partially controlled By our genesthat are a part of our central clock. These genes influence our chronotype – whether we’re a “lark” (early bird), a “night owl” (late sleeper), or a “dove” (somewhere in between).

However, exposure to light at night, when we needs to be sleeping, can have harmful effects. Even weak light from light pollution could make us feel worse heart rate and how we metabolize sugar (glucose), may lead to mental disorders reminiscent of depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, and increases overall risk premature death.

The primary reason behind these harmful effects is that “wrong-time” light disrupts the body clock, and these effects are more pronounced in “night owls.”

This “inappropriate” light exposure has also been linked to the harmful health effects we regularly see in people working night shifts, reminiscent of an increased risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

What in regards to the intestines?

Digestion also follows a circadian rhythm. Muscles of the colon that help move waste they’re more lively in the course of the day and slows down at night.

The most important increase in colon movement begins at 6:30 am. This is one among the the reason why most individuals feel the necessity to poop within the early morning reasonably than within the evening.

The intestinal day-night rhythm is a direct results of the intestinal clock and the central clock (which synchronizes the intestines with the remainder of the body). It can also be influenced by when we eat.

6.30 on the digital display — At 6:30 your bowels really start working for the day.
Rendra Dria Septia Aji/Shutterstock

What about concentration?

The biological clock also helps control our level of attention and alertness by changing the way in which the brain functions at certain times of the day. Levels of attention and alertness improve within the afternoon and evening, but decline in the course of the night and early morning.

These fluctuations impact on performance and may lead to decreased productivity and increased risk errors and accidents during waking hours.

Therefore, it will be significant to perform specific tasks they require our attention at certain times of the day. This includes driving. In fact, the disruption of the circadian clock in the beginning of daylight saving time – when our body has not had a likelihood to adapt to the time change – increases the chance automobile accident, especially within the morning.

What else controls our biological clock?

Our biological clock influences many other features of our biology, including:

physical performance controlling the activities of our muscles
blood pressure by controlling the system of hormones involved in regulating the amount of blood and blood vessels
body temperature controlling our metabolism and level of physical activity
how our body deals with drugs and toxins By controlling enzymes involved in removing these substances from the body through the liver and kidneys.

Driving at night in wet conditions — If you can, avoid driving long distances at night because you might be less alert.
trend objects/Shutterstock

Morning light is significant

But what does all this mean for us? Light exposure, especially within the morning, is crucial for synchronizing our circadian clock and body functions.

Increased exposure to morning light does greater than just help us sleep well sanity AND reduces the chance of obesity. So increasing our exposure to morning light – reminiscent of going for a walk or eating breakfast outdoors – can directly profit our mental and metabolic health.

However, there are other features over which we have now less control, including: genes that control our biological clock.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com

Health and Wellness

Health matters: WNBA star Napheesa Collier on her commitment to women’s reproductive health

Published

4 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Minnesota lynx

Napheesa Collier will not be only a WNBA superstar for the Minnesota Lynx and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, but additionally the mother of her daughter Mila and an advocate for women’s reproductive health rights.

It recently decided to partner with Opill®, the primary and only every day contraceptive pill available over-the-counter within the United States. This breakthrough represents a major step forward in women’s health care by providing a convenient and accessible contraceptive option. With Opill, women not need to visit health care facilities for prescriptions, making it easier than ever to take control of their reproductive health.

The collaboration relies on Opill®’s long-standing partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). “One of the reasons Opill® partnered with the WNBA is the great passion of players who use their platform to support causes they believe in,” said Leila Bahbah, leading women’s health brand at Perrigo within the US. “Napheesa exudes this passion, and together we plan to educate and empower people to take control of their reproductive health.”

Collier advocates for girls and says she is willing to have conversations, even in the event that they are difficult. “I just truly believe in everything they do at Opill®. I believe it’s important to talk to people who may become pregnant and to women about the reproductive health and contraceptive options available to them,” Collier tells ESSENCE.

He continues: “I want people to know that if they want contraception, Opill® is a great option. It is the first over-the-counter drug approved by the FDA. It is inexpensive, available. You don’t need a prescription to get it. I think that’s a key thing in today’s climate.”

Collier notes that within the off-season, he tries to travel to various colleges to talk to students about their reproductive freedoms. “Talking about this topic is essential to remove the stigma as it should not be considered a shameful topic or something that should not be discussed openly. My mother was a nurse, so it was casual to talk about it in our house, and I want to pass it on to other people too, so I’m very excited about it,” she says.

In the present political climate, many ladies with daughters are concerned about their future and reproductive health. Collier, included. “Especially because I am the mother of a young girl, it is very important to me to be able to raise her in an atmosphere where she knows her reproductive rights and health, that she has access to affordable health care and contraception if she wants it and that she can ask me these questions and have open conversations.”

Collier continues: “It’s back to education. Again, I think it’s harmful that we can’t have open conversations about birth control and other issues that are usually taboo. I think it’s harmful. I think this does a lot of harm to women. It hurts. This is harmful to our society. Being able to talk about these issues and empowering women to learn about their rights and bodies creates a safer and healthier society.”

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

Health and Wellness

Yes, despite what you’ve heard on TikTok, you still need to use sunscreen

Published

4 hours ago

November 21, 2024

IAM

Summer is nearly here. But as an alternative of using sunscreen, some TikTokers just do that encouraging followers throw it away and forgo sunscreen.

They argue that it’s healthier to forgo sunscreen to get the complete advantages of the sun.

Here’s what the science really says.

How does sunscreen work?

Due to the acute UV environment in Australia, most individuals with pale to olive skin or other risk aspects for skin cancer must accomplish that protect yourself. Applying sunscreen is a key approach to protecting areas that aren’t easily covered by clothing.

Sunscreens work by absorbing or scattering UV rays before they reach the skin and damage DNA or supporting structures corresponding to collagen.

In this photo I (Katie) apply sunscreen only to the appropriate side of my face. Sunscreens absorb and scatter UV light (right side), although it can’t be seen with the naked eye (left side). The photo on the appropriate also shows where sun spots (dark spots) accumulate on my skin and where I do not care to apply sunscreen evenly – under the attention, on the cheek and completely missing the ear.
The creator provided/UQ

When UV molecules hit DNA, the surplus energy can damage our DNA. This damage might be repaired, but when the cell divides before the error is repaired, it causes a mutation that may lead to skin cancer.

The energy of the UV particle (photon) causes the DNA strands to break and reconnect incorrectly. This causes a tumor within the DNA strand, which makes accurate copying difficult and might introduce mutations.
NASA/David Herring

The most typical skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Melanoma is less common but most definitely spreads throughout the body; this process known as metastasis.

Two against three At least the Australians will one skin cancer during their lives they usually reconcile 80% all cancers in Australia.

About 99% of skin cancers in Australia are attributable to overexposure to UV radiation.

Excessive exposure to UV radiation also affects the looks of the skin. UVA rays are able to penetrate deep into the skin, where they break down supporting structures corresponding to elastin and collagen.

This causes signs premature agingcorresponding to deep wrinkles, brown or white spots and broken capillaries.

Sunscreen may also help prevent skin cancer

Consistently used sunscreen reduces the danger of skin cancer and slows skin aging.

In Queensland studyparticipants either used sunscreen day by day for nearly five years or continued their usual use.

After five years, the danger of squamous cell cancer was reduced within the day by day group 40% compared to the second group.

Ten years later, the danger of developing invasive melanoma was reduced within the group of individuals taking the drug day by day 73%

Do sunscreens block the health-promoting properties of sunlight?

The answer is a little more complicated and involves a personalised risk-benefit trade-off.

First, the excellent news: spending time within the sun has many health advantages don’t rely under the influence of UV radiation and aren’t affected by the use of sunscreens.

A woman applies sunscreen — Sunscreens only filter out UV rays, not all light.
Ron Lach/Pexels

Sunscreens only filter UV rays, not visible light or infrared light (which we feel as heat). Importantly, a number of the advantages of sunlight are obtained through Eyes.

Visible light improves mood and regulates and possibly reduces circadian rhythm (which influences the sleep-wake cycle). myopia (myopia) in children.

Infrared light is being researched as a treatment for several conditions skin, neurological, psychiatric AND autoimmune disorders.

So what is the good thing about exposing your skin to UV radiation?

Sun exposure produces vitamin D, which is crucial for healthy bones and muscles.

Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common amongst Australians, peaking in Victoria at 49% in winter and lowest in Queensland at 6% in summer.

Fortunately, individuals who deal with sun protection can avoid vitamin D deficiency taking a complement.

Skin exposure to UV radiation could have advantages independent of vitamin D production, but these haven’t been proven. It may reduce the danger of autoimmune diseases corresponding to multiple sclerosis or cause the discharge of a chemical that may lower blood pressure. However, there aren’t enough details about these advantages to say whether sunscreen can be an issue.

What does this mean for you?

Exposure of the skin to UV radiation may provide some advantages that could be blunted by sunscreens. This determines whether it’s value giving up these advantages to avoid skin cancer how susceptible you have skin cancer.

If you have pale skin or other aspects that increase your risk of skin cancer, try to use sunscreen day by day on all days when the forecast UV index reaches 3.

If you have darker skin that rarely or never burns, you might want to skip using sunscreen on daily basis – although you’ll still need protection when you’re outdoors for prolonged periods of time.

For now, the balance of evidence suggests that it is healthier for people susceptible to skin cancer to proceed using sunscreen, supplementing with vitamin D as needed.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com

Health and Wellness

Recipe for change: eliminating health disparities and economic empowerment – the essence

Published

10 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Via Griffin/Getty Images

Throughout the 12 months, the Global Black Economic Forum held quite a few select conversations focused on solutions to the most pressing economic and social issues facing marginalized communities. One of those issues – too often missed – is the link between Black health and wealth. If we do not start eliminating health disparities and inequalities today, we cannot give you the chance to construct wealth for the future.

This intersection was the focus of an event we hosted in August as a part of our cooking talk series. It was held on Martha’s Vineyard, round the corner National Medical Scholarships (NMF), the Black World Economic Forum had the opportunity to satisfy with NMF’s unapologetic leader, Michellene Davis. Recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as certainly one of the 25 most influential minority leaders in healthcare, Michellene’s profession has involved policy advocacy and social change.

Her organization is devoted to increasing the variety of Black, Indigenous and physicians of color through fellowships, service-learning programs, mentoring opportunities and clinical research leadership training.

The conversation revealed two easy and interconnected data points: In the next decade, the United States will experience:huge shortage of doctors while becoming a majority non-white nation. These two trends highlight the need for greater diversity on this field. Studies have shown that patients of color see racially and ethnically diverse physicians. Treatment results are frequently higher.

However, the percentage of black doctors in the US is growing at an alarmingly slow rate – it has only increased by 4% over the last 120 years.. In the face of conservatives’ regressive and destructive attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, there has never been a greater need for us to redouble these efforts. The more we are able to improve health outcomes, the higher we’ll give you the chance to seize and compete for economic opportunities in the future. Given the urgent need to deal with health care workforce disparities and their direct impact on Black economic outcomes, it’s equally essential to acknowledge the broader economic opportunities that may drive wealth creation in our communities.

The competition for certainly one of the best economic opportunities in the history of tourism and hospitality – the 2026 FIFA World Cup – was the focus of our other curated conversation. Organized round the corner East Point Congress and Visitors Bureau, we sat down with its president, Chantel Francois. In her position, she is responsible for the development of the tourism industry in the city of East Point, Georgia. Previously, she led economic development and tourism promotion efforts in Atlanta, Trinidad and Tobago.

Francois described how local businesses run by entrepreneurs of color can leverage global events like the FIFA World Cup to extend their brand visibility, increase sales, and even start their very own businesses. She emphasized the importance of partnerships with event organizers, teams and athletes in constructing company awareness. This cooperation can also be crucial as the city government works with many stakeholders to make sure the safety of tourists and maximum economic opportunities for the area people.

When it involves such major events, it is usually essential to instill a way of community pride in each sector wherein an organization competes. This pride translates into a robust bond with travelers that may make them proceed to interact with small businesses or spark curiosity in them to learn more about the community. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has the potential to place tens of millions of dollars into the pockets and communities of individuals of color, and it’s crucial for businesses to begin planning now in the event that they have not already.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com