The notion of circadian rhythms was first documented in the eighteenth century when it was determined based on observation that the closing and opening of heliotrope plant leaves occurred independently of sunlight, which was recorded by the French astronomer de Mairan. It is clearly evident now that almost all surfaces of physiology exhibit rhythmic oscillations from the simplest of bacteria to us human beings (10). As a biological clock, circadian rhythms develop to accomplish a steady entrainment to environmental cycles such as light. Additionally, circadian rhythms also serve two main functions, which is to measure the duration of time and to track the time of the day. These two functions are intertwined with one another being that both …show more content…
Consequently, it has been observed that internal desynchronization occurs commonly amongst shift workers who are under a societal routine that is considered normal and individuals living in social and temporal isolation. Studies on human beings were conducted under complete temporal and social isolation and under these types of conditions it was revealed that rhythms persist in multiple bodily functions but these individuals were unable to maintain synchrony with a twenty-four hour day. Thus, an experiment was conducted in order to examine a group of shift workers abilities to estimate timer intervals of short duration. This experiment incorporated ten diurnal human beings to be the control subjects of this experiment and twenty-two shift workers. A circadian rhythm in time estimates was reported in the ten diurnal human beings serving as the control group, but was reported as disrupted in the shift workers used during this experiment. Spectral analysis exposed that frequency or circadian component in time estimates are found to be lower in shift workers …show more content…
Thus, this opportunity to work during the nighttime has been intertwined with some aspects of our society and allowed it to be somewhat acceptable to certain individuals. Additionally, it has become part of the society we live in, and inevitably unavoidable in certain circumstances. Unfortunately however, these working and traveling routines cause a disruption to the natural sleep-wakefulness cycle, and inevitably expose human beings to light at unordinary biologic times, which produce an outcome such that eating patterns, and social interactions with family and acquaintances are modified. Furthermore, the health impact of shift work has raised many concerns amongst individuals since it has been observed and studied that it gives rise to long-term health issues. In many studies conducted, both long and short-term, revealed that unfavorable alterations have been reported in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and in insulin resistance, growth hormone and corticosteroid secretion patterns (blood concentrations). On an epidemiologic basis, hypertension, left ventricle hypertrophy, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infraction have been found to be more frequent and critical amongst individuals who work during the
The body’s internal clock, commonly known as circadian rhythm, does not sync with the DST’s clock. This disconnect between the body’s clock and the DST’s clock can engender feelings of “restlessness, sleep disruption, and shorter sleep duration” (O’Connor).
4. Circadian Cancer Therapy. William J. M. Hrushesky, Ed. CRC Press, Inc., MI, 1994. pp 3-9, 279-281.
Although evidence has concluded that long working hours increase the risk of fatigue, several studies have demonstrated contradictory results of the effect of working hours on fatigue and cognitive thinking. It argued that there is no difference between 12 and 8 hour shifts on nurse’s fatigue or critical thinking performance (Estabrooks et al., 2009). Supporting to this Todd et al. (1989) and Reid et al. (1993) claimed that there is no a distinction between the two shift systems in cognitive functions. However, a conducted study found that the risk of fatigue is increased at the end of 12-hour shifts, while there is no difference between the two shift systems in the critical thinking (Fields and Loveridge, 1988). Contrary, Ugrovics and Wright (1990) demonstrated that in the twelve hour-shifts the last hour is associated with an elevation of the level of fatigue and decrease the level of concentration. Furthermore, in a st...
Circadian rhythms are endogenous and self sustaining in all animals and plants. These rhythms are present in the absence of environment clues such as light, temperature and social clues. In absence of clues, animals free run in constant darkness due to programmed genetic interactions. Some of the genes involve in this processes are Per, Clock and Cry. The expressions of these genes are tightly regulated at molecular level by proteins which bind to promoters and repressors to create a rhythm throughout the day. For example, bmal and clock bind to ebox region to produce cry and mper proteins (Hong and Chong, 2007). These proteins are concentration dependant which means high level binds to repressor region to avoid further transcription. Such oscillations work on close to 24 hour cycle in animals and plants. These processes occur without any environmental clues. In case the environment clues are introduced to animals, they tend to synchronize internal clock with external signals. One such example of synchronization is shown in dorsophilia which increase Tim protein at night and the presence of external light decrease the production of Tim protein. This results into phase delay in dorsophilia (Leuloup and Goldbeter, 2001).
Bogard effectively provides scientific evidence relating to activities some must do in order to survive,as “the World Health Organization classifies working the night shift as a probable human carcinogen.” Many people work night shifts so that they’re able to have the necessities of life, but scientists are stating that they are internally ruining their
According to Wilson (2005), sleep deprivation can cause not only traffic accidents, but also medical conditions such as: obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabo...
In order to avoid sleep deprivation, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is vital for teenagers. Compared to opposing age groups, teenagers are most easily affected by inconsistent sleep habits (National Sleep Foundation, Adapt). The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) reports that, “For the adolescent’s circadian clock to stay on track, it is essential that teens remain on schedule…(National Sleep Foundation, Adapt).” The NSF also recommends that teens only stay up one hour later on weekends than they would duri...
The authors and scientists from a different study by the U.S National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health on long and short-term sleep deprivation state directly that “in certain jobs, people face sleep restriction. Some professions such as health care… require working at night. In such fields, the effect of acute total sleep deprivation (SD) on performance is crucial” (Alhola & Polo-Kantola, Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance). Depending on their schedule, nurses can often be susceptible to sleep deprivation and are no exception, especially if they are working long hours. The study performed research on how acute and chronic sleep deprivation can affect the brain and how it can slow down or worsen thought process and rationality throughout the day for working adults. The authors also explain that “motor function, rhythm, receptive and expressive speech, and memory ...deteriorated after one night of SD.” (Alhola and Polo-Kantola, Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance) Although everybody is affected by a lack of sleep differently, some might have the ability to handle it a lot better than others, but it is fair to say that no one can perform their jobs perfectly if their brains are being affected by sleep deprivation. This organization concludes this study by explaining that there is still much research that needs to be
While points, claims, and statistics may be found within all of the sources used for the research, the sheer amount of referenced studies and works within the “Sleep-Wake” paper lends weight to it’s usefulness as a reliable source. One of the otherfactor of sleep and its affect within the college community. Three sources varying in criteria and usefulness were found that related to this subject and were studied. sources, “College Students try to Cheat Sleep Needs”, a college newspaper, offers basic facts and elementary assumptions such that could be found within any biology textbook or encyclopedia. These references are to such things as sleep cycles and sub stages and the general consequences of an out of balance sleep cycle. The study from the Biological Rhythm Research writers, however, hints at previous studies and findings that “several factors, such as social and academic demands, part-time jobs, [...] affect the sleep-wake cycle of college students.” but then only states the findings of a particular study, and does so in...
Heart disease: The Nurses’ Health Study proved that women who slept 9-11 hours per night were 38% more likely to have coronary heart disease as compares to women who slept 8 hours.
Long working hours continue to be one of the largest health concerns in the world. Currently, the world population has become so busy due to the pressure from harsh economic conditions. People are therefore spending long working hours in the workplace, which is an aspect that has negative impact on their health conditions. Statistics from Working Condition Survey indicates that approximately 30% of workers residing in European Union believe that their health is at risk due to the hours they spent in the workplace (Gurung, 2010:16)
Important public policy issues have arisen in our modern 24-hour society, where it is crucial to weigh the value of sleep versus wakefulness. Scientific knowledge about sleep is currently insufficient to resolve the political and academic debates raging about how much and when people should sleep. These issues affect almost everybody, from the shift worker to the international traveler, from the physician to the policy maker, from the anthropologist to the student preparing for an exam.
In this paragraph, I will elucidate on how sleep deprivation is associated with low academic performance, poor health, depression, mood disorders and drowsy driving in adolescents. I will substantiate my argument using statistics and studies, performed by researchers in my sources. I will also be defining cardinal terms such as circadian rhythms, sleep deprivation and neurocognitive functioning. Finally, I will present my thesis statement and introduce academic performance and health effects of sleep deprivation as the two
Sleep is extremely important for your health. Not getting adequate sleep every night can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression. Diseases also have an affect on sleep and can cause delayed sleep, advanced sleep or irregular sleep-wake cycles which can affect daily life. Waking earlier means you are tired earlier and waking later could mean you are tired for work in the morning. In conclusion, many things can alter the biological clock and by using melatonin and light treatments, it could solve some sleep disorders and help regulate sleep-wake cycles in those with other types of diseases.
In a majority of circadian rhythms there seems to be major components which include an endogenous component (which is regulated by an internal clock located in the hypothalamus) and an exogenous component. This exogenous component is made up of different clues in time in the world around us....