Hey Readers!
So, circadian rhythms are this extremely weird concept that I'm fascinated with. Within a 24 hour period, there are certain things more likely to happen at certain times, some that you are aware of, but most that you are not. Some more common terms for your circadian rhythms are your "inner" or "biological" clock, which are actually not accurate labels for your circadian rhythms. Believe it or not, this mysterious regulatory system controls more about you than you realize.
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, emotional and even behavioral changes that follow a 24 hour, or daily cycle. Similarly to the technique of photoperiodism in plants, they respond to the level of light and darkness in the environment. Often confused with biological clocks, the two are closely intertwined, as your biological clock signals and often regulates the production of circadian rhythms. A common disruption of circadian rhythms are the symptoms known as jet lag when the shift in time zones and therefore in the timing of light levels shifts drastically.
The "master clock" or main circadian rhythm controller is known as the SCN, or suprachiasmatic nucleus, and is located in the hypothalamus. The cells in this location are packed with genes that carry out the functions necessary for maintaining circadian rhythms, though they are also located elsewhere in the body, such as the kidneys, liver, etc. This master system regulates all other circadian rhythms and provides important information, such as when the body should increase and/or decrease melatonin and other hormone levels, shifts in temperature and blood pressure, and other impacts yet to be discovered.
So.... how exactly does one mess up this "clock"? Shouldn't it just reset and force your body back into this "optimal" schedule for your health?
For some cycles, like the sleep cycle, this can be very true. The circadian rhythm for sleep is controlled by the hypothalamus, a small portion of your brain that is responsible for the rhythm and so much more. But still... there are ways to get around them.
For me, this means that my sleep/wake cycle is what most would call unhealthy. Staying up until the wee hours of the morning doesn't sound like a good time to most, but hey, I probably get just as many hours as those who go to bed at 10:00 pm. This is because my circadian rhythm has shifted to accommodate my odd schedule. Instead of living a 24 hour day, like most, I tend to live two 12 hour days within a 24 hour period, by sleeping for periods of 3 & 1/2 to four hours at the same times during the am and pm, generally around 3:30-7.
Despite the fact that the sleep/wake cycle is the most commonly known of the circadian rhythms, it is certainly not the only one in existence. Research has been done on circadian rhythms to discover when the best times to take medications are, when higher risks for heart attacks and other detrimental illnesses occur, and so much more. The power of circadian rhythms seems endless, and it's entirely likely that we've only scratched the surface of their capabilities.
The field of research on circadian rhythms is constantly growing, with advancements in chemotherapy and the idea being applied to more and more concepts as more research is done. The history of circadian rhythm research is equally as interesting, with discoveries in plants and smaller animals such as flies and mice over 200 years ago. The study of circadian rhythms is known as chronobiology. Medial professionals reported in 2000 that knowledge of circadian rhythms can be applied to over 35 diseases, and the number has only grown since. For an idea so commonplace, it's interesting to see how little people really know about it.
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