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You may circulate copies of the Doctor’s Senior Exercise & Newsletter by Manually forwarding it, providing you forward the issue in it’s entirety, no fee is involved, and you may forward no more than three issues to any one individual. You may not attach advertising or otherwise modify the text of the newsletter.

Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter

       June 1, 2008      Issue Vol. 8 No. 6

                     Each Month we offer special deals on

                  our Website: www.doctorsexercise.com

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In This Newsletter

Introduction

Healthfully yours

Health Hints

Introduction***

The Doctor’s Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter is written monthly, solely for information to help seniors, baby boomers and anyone who may have an interest in staying healthy, living a vigorous, active lifestyle and combating the aging process. It does not constitute the practice of medicine and is not meant to prescribe treatments. It is offered strictly as an educational aid. Any medical problems you may have, we recommend that you seek the help of your physician or other healthcare professional. Discussing your intentions with your doctor is always the proper procedure. The newsletter also includes know-how in the form of useful tips and links to more extensive material on the Internet. You may wish to share this newsletter by sending a copy to a friend, neighbor or relative and suggesting they subscribe to it.

This newsletter is scanned for viruses and is virus-free before it is sent to recipients!

Website: http://www.doctorsexercise.com 

How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe: Send your email address with subscribe or unsubscribe to e-mail address below:

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Healthfully yours****

Circadian Rhythms

Circadian Rhythms as defined by the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary are defined as: being, having characterized by, or occurring in approximately 24-hour periods or cycles (as of biological activity or function). An easier meaning is “about a day”. The medical name when the body’s biological clock is disrupted is called, “Circadian dysrhythmia”.

This time clock is found in our brain in an area called the hypothalmus (As well as in animals), and consists of 2 pinhead-sized structures with about a cluster of 20,000 brain cells, called the suprachiasmatic nucleus. These cells can be found situated by a straight line from the roof of the mouth to about the level of the bridge of the nose, at a point just above where the optic nerves cross.

There are many things that can disrupt normal circadian rhythms, and the resultant disarray to normal bodily functions, can vary from slight to severe. Scientists have discovered a brain chemical called “Vasoactive intestinal peptide” (VIP), a hormone that coordinates the rhythm of all the body’s clocks, basically keeping them in sync with each other.

There are several causes for dysrhythmia, or disruption of the circadian clock:

1.      Changes in your routine, such as shift workers and truck drivers are prone to find themselves in.

2.      Seasonal changes, called “Seasonal Affective Disorder”. (SAD). This is generally another cause of a condition called “Cabin Fever”.

3.      Time zone changes, traveling across different time zones, are the greatest cause of jet lag.

4.      Mood swings brought on by stress. Read more on stress and how to cope at: www.doctorsexercise.com, and go to Newsletter and retrieve the article on Stress dated 2/29/00 and also the Newsletter dated December 1, 2001 Vol. 1 No. 12            

5.      Pregnancy, causing hormonal changes that bring on hormonal imbalance.

6.      Medication that can cause hormonal imbalances or changes.

7.      Environmental changes are also a factor in determining how your biological clock affects your daily life. This is closely tied in with the seasonal changes as in number 2 above.

When there are symptoms occurring that seem to be occurring for no apparent reason, and you just can’t ascertain as to why they are occurring, look to your circadian clock. Read about how to cope with these symptoms in the health hints below. 

Health Hints***

·        Shift workers are prone to various types of symptoms, such as, drowsiness, insomnia, digestive problems, and problems with mental acuity. They can have difficulty in focusing on their jobs and are prone to serious accidents. Driving can be dangerous with a possibility of falling asleep at the wheel. Truck drivers are particularly at risk. Sleep disorders can be treated with Chronotherapy. This is a technique that is used to change an individual’s behavior by going to sleep at a specific time and maintaining that schedule on a regular basis. Read more about sleep disorders at: www.doctorsexercise.com and click on Journal Index and read the article on Insomnia dated 9/20/99. Also read more in our Newsletter dated December 1, 2006 Vol. 6 No. 12.

·        Seasonal changes result in mood swings and depressive states. Read about this particular condition at: www.doctorsexercise.com, and also read the Newsletter dated October 1, 2007 Vol. 7 No. 10 the best treatment for this condition is “Light therapy”. This therapy consists of a lighted box with white fluorescent bulbs shielded with a screen to block out ultraviolet rays. Before seeking light therapy, you should seek advice from your healthcare provider.

·        When traveling rapidly across different time zones, the individual will experience various types of symptoms; they feel tired and washed out the next morning, and that feeling can persist for a day or two. Insomnia can also cause problems. Usually the individual will return to normal after a day of rest. However, if the condition persists and they cannot get back to feeling normal, the individual should talk to their doctor and discuss getting light therapy.

·        In pregnancy, the body undergoes various hormonal changes and at times there can be an over production of one or more hormones placing the body at risk for disrupting the biological clock and Circadian dysrythmia occurs.

·        Medications can cause changes in the body’s circadian rhythm by drug reactions and changes in brain and organ functions. There can be drug interactions as well, and should be discussed with their doctor and pharmacist.

·        Environmental changes are also a factor in determining how your biological clock affects your daily life. The area where you live determines how you react. In areas where the days stay darker for longer periods of time, individuals are more at risk. Longer daylight hours keep the circadian rhythm ticking on a more normal basis. The more light you are exposed too, the more normal the clock runs.

Doc Cane        

Copyright, Disclaimer, and Trademark information Copyrightã 1997-2003 Emanuel M. Cane. All rights reserved. Except stated below, this material or parts thereof may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed by any means whatsoever without explicit, written permission from the author.

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