Often called the biological clock, the circadian rhythm is a 24-hour light cycle that regulates our physical and mental health.
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We asked the GPT Chat to answer our questions and this is the result.
What are the dangers of blue light?
1. Eye fatigue, headaches and eye pain.
2. Sleep disturbances: Exposure to blue light before bedtime can disrupt the circadian rhythm and cause sleep problems.
3. Risk of eye diseases: Prolonged exposure to blue light may increase the risk of developing eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
4. Cancer risk: Some studies have suggested that exposure to blue light may increase the risk of cancer, particularly breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Blue light is a part of the short-wavelength, high-energy visible light emitted by the sun, computer monitors, mobile phones, tablets and LED lamps. Excessive exposure to blue light can have negative health effects
It is recommended to limit exposure to blue light by using blue light filters on screens, reducing the use of electronic devices before bedtime, wearing blue light goggles and using light sources with low blue light emission.
What are circadian rhythm disruptors?
Circadian rhythm disruptors are factors that can disrupt our natural body clock and sleep-wake cycle. Here are some examples of circadian rhythm disruptors:
1. Blue light: exposure to blue light from computer screens, mobile phones, tablets and LED lights can disrupt our body clock and affect our sleep.
2. Time zone changes: travelling across different time zones can disrupt our circadian rhythm and lead to sleep problems and fatigue.
3. Irregular working hours: working shifts or rotating shifts can disrupt our circadian rhythm and affect our sleep and health.
4. Eating habits: eating late at night or skipping meals can disrupt our body clock and affect our sleep.
5. Stress and anxiety: Stress and anxiety can disrupt our sleep and circadian rhythm.
It is important to maintain a regular sleep routine, limit exposure to blue light before bedtime, eat regular, balanced meals, and manage stress to maintain a healthy circadian rhythm.
During the day, the activity of our genes oscillates in two large waves, one in the morning, the other in the evening. But these waves, which are greater in women than in men, diminish with age, according to a study in the journal "Science".
It is a story of genes whose activity oscillates in our cells during the day and night. Forming two large waves, one in the morning, the other in the evening, the height of which varies according to our tissues. The group of genes involved differs according to our tissues. Moreover, these waves appear more pronounced in women than in men, but are blunted by age in both sexes.
These are, in essence, the findings of an unprecedented exploration of human tissues taken from 914 donors shortly after their death. Published in the journal Science on 3 February, this analysis reveals the inner workings of our circadian clock, the molecular gearing that tells our cells the time of day - so they can adjust their tasks to the needs of the body.
But why the name 'circadian' clock - from the Latin circa, 'near', and dies, 'day'? Because in our species, this clock is set to an average period of twenty-four hours and twelve minutes. However, this duration depends on the individual. In early sleepers, the clock is faster (its period tends towards twenty-three hours and thirty minutes); in late sleepers, it is slower (twenty-four hours and thirty minutes). Whatever our chronotype, our internal clock must be set to a twenty-four hour rhythm. To do this, it uses external synchronisers: daylight, the rhythm of our meals and our daily activities, etc.
Read the full article here (in French): https://www.lemonde.fr/sciences/article/2023/02/07/chez-la-femme-l-horloge-circadienne-plus-active-que-chez-l-homme_6160869_1650684.html
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