
Your Biological Clock at Work
Season 3 Episode 29 | 2m 42sVideo has Closed Captions
Your circadian rhythm can shift somewhat depending on your sleep/wake schedule.
This sleep cycle is a good average: your circadian rhythm can shift somewhat depending on your sleep/wake schedule. If you wake consistently at 9am, then your blood pressure with go up closer to 8:45am and everything else will be shifted as well. It's tied to sunlight A LOT but since we have artificial light, there's wiggle room within that.
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Your Biological Clock at Work
Season 3 Episode 29 | 2m 42sVideo has Closed Captions
This sleep cycle is a good average: your circadian rhythm can shift somewhat depending on your sleep/wake schedule. If you wake consistently at 9am, then your blood pressure with go up closer to 8:45am and everything else will be shifted as well. It's tied to sunlight A LOT but since we have artificial light, there's wiggle room within that.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipYour sleep cycle, also known as your circadian rhythm, tells your body when to be asleep, and when to be awake.
It uses cues from light, temperature, when and what you eat, and whether or not you exercise to make you feel alert, or tired.
There are a lot of different processes involved.
At 6:45am, your blood pressure rises getting your body ready to wake up and spend all day vertical.
When you first get up in the morning, you may still be drowsy.
Your brain and body haven't completely woken up yet.
Around 7:30am your brain stops secreting melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel tired and want to sleep.
This happens in response to light, especially in the blue wavelengths, and exposure to warmth, like from the sun, or a shower.
You'll likely be hungry, so fuel up for the day ahead.
By 10am, you reach your peak level of alertness.
This is the time to really focus and get your mental work done.
By noon, you may be hungry again.
Not getting enough sleep can trigger overeating-It's a feedback loop.
So make sure you're getting your rest.
2:30pm is when you're at your most coordinated.
Practicing skills like instruments, games, or movement will be easiest around this time.
And 3:30pm is when your reaction time is at it's peak, so get out and play!
You hit your peak levels of muscle strength and cardiovascular efficiency around 5pm, so maybe plan your gym time for after work.
Refuel after your workout, but make sure it's healthy.
Your blood pressure hits its peak around 6:30pm.
Around 7pm is when your body temperature is at its highest.
As it gets late, the temperature decrease, combined with the dimming, red-ish light in the sunset will start to trigger melatonin release.
Usually around 9pm, you'll start to feel tired.
But if you have temperature control in your house, and you're using your phone or computer, you may be confusing those signals, and throwing off your sleep cycle.
If you're having trouble sleeping, try putting your phone away at least an hour before bed.
And try placing a cool cloth on the base of your neck for a few minutes, before you actually go to sleep.
It'll probably help cue your circadian rhythm, so you can do it all again tomorrow.
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