If you were to ask your friends whether they were “night owls” or “early birds” you might just find that women and men answer differently. New research in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” shows that men and women tend to have different circadian rhythms. Specifically, women tend to have “faster clocks.” That means women tend to be early risers.
Every one of us has a unique circadian rhythm - think of it as your own internal biological clock. This “clock” has an effect on your sleeping and eating patterns; it is also associated with cycles of brain wave activity, hormone production and other biological activities.
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital placed subjects into a windowless sleep lab for eight weeks. This was done because the environment around you also plays a role on your circadian rhythm - specifically the amount of light or dark. By placing the research subjects in these windowless rooms, each person’s natural circadian rhythm became evident. On average, women’s clocks were six minutes shorter. It may not seem like much, but those minutes add up. Some women had a daily cycle that was less than 24 hours.
According to the researchers, if you have a shorter clock, you need to block out light that can interfere with your sleep. If your cycle is longer than 24 hours, you need to be certain early morning light streams in to get you going in the morning.
Many women probably aren’t getting enough sleep -that may, in fact, be fighting their own inner clock.
So why does all this matter? Well, sleep plays an important role in your health. The role between sleep and your immune system is complicated. Prolonged sleep deprivation can compromise your immune system’s ability to fight off illness, but losing a little sleep here and there may actually be beneficial. When you are ill, however, it’s a common response to sleep for extended periods. Research has found that non-REM sleep tends to increase when you’re ill.
When you are asleep:
- Your body works to repair itself, producing extra protein molecules that are important to fighting infection.
- You give your cardiovascular system a much-needed break from stress and inflammation.
- Your brain takes the day’s events and organizes them - this leads to clearer thinking in the morning.
- Your body is regulating the hormones that affect your appetite. Research shows that those who are sleep-deprived can have hormonal imbalances that cause them to eat calorie-rich fats and carbohydrates. This can lead to obesity.
- You help your body better process glucose, thus reducing your risk for diabetes type 2.
Sleeping like eating, drinking and exercising - you need it to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Exciting new research done on mice indicates that the placenta plays a more active role in fetal development than previously thought. Researchers discovered that in mice, the placenta actually produced serotonin — a chemical that plays a key role in fetal brain development. Researchers will continue to examine these new findings particularly as serotonin is believed to play a role in the development of schizophrenia or autism. The production of serotonin by the placenta has been a surprising find — one that researchers are excited about because in the past it was determined that the serotonin wasn’t produced by the fetus nor could it pass through the placenta. Interestingly, researchers also determined that the placenta only produced serotonin during a certain window of time — then it stops.
Researchers have found that the human placenta has the potential to make serotonin as well.
One of the more puzzling medical conditions we see today is interstitial cystitis, a condition with symptoms similar to those of a urinary tract infection. It affects an estimated 700,000 Americans - 90% of whom are women. What can be troubling is that the condition does not respond to antibiotics nor is it caused by an infection. In fact, the actual cause of interstitial cystitis is still in question.
With interstitial cystitis, the bladder wall becomes irritated leading to symptoms that include:
- An intense urge to urinate, including awakening from sleep to urinate
- Pressure or tenderness near the bladder -that can intensify as the bladder fills -in the pelvic region or below the belly button
- Frequent urination
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Pain during sexual intercourse
This past week, Serena Williams underwent surgery for a hematoma caused by a serious medical condition called pulmonary embolism. Many have commented on Serena’s condition, wondering how one of the world’s strongest tennis competitors could suffer from this condition. In fact, pulmonary embolism - blocked arteries in the lungs - can happen to the healthiest of people.
Pulmonary embolism results when a blood clot (or other material) travels from your body to arteries in your lungs. If the clot is not detected, it can damage the portion of lung that is not receiving blood and cause a life-threatening condition. Usually, the clot originates in one’s lower legs. However, other materials - part of a tumor, fat from bone marrow or air bubbles - can cause pulmonary embolism as well.
Most often, the clot travels from the legs to the lungs after a person has been stationary for a long time - sitting on an airplane or in a car, or moving about after extended bed rest. It’s generally recommended that you walk during flight or drink plenty of water when traveling to avoid such a condition.
Other risk factors for pulmonary embolism include age, family history, surgery, heart disease, pregnancy, certain types of cancer, smoking, obesity or taking supplemental estrogen.
The symptoms of pulmonary embolism include a shortness of breath, coughing that produces bloody sputum, chest pain, weak pulse, excessive sweating, wheezing, swollen legs, irregular heartbeat, lightheadedness or fainting.
If pulmonary embolism is detected in advance, you may be placed on anti-clotting medications or clot dissolvers. In some instances surgery will be required in order to safely remove the clots.
If you do find yourself short of breath, wheezing or coughing up bloody sputum, it’s important you see a medical professional.
If you request a complete - or executive - physical, you should expect your physician to do more than listen to your heart and lungs. In fact, a complete physical should include a wide range of tests depending on your age and gender - such as chest x-rays, audiograms, EKGs, laboratory tests, heart stress tests, pulmonary function testing, CAT scans, urinalysis, mammograms, prostate exams, vascular age tests.
One of the most important steps in a complete physical is the first one - discussing your recent medical history with your physician. If you have concerns, are experiencing symptoms or have questions about preventative tests or measures - now is the time to be forthright. After all, what you do - or don’t - tell your physician plays a role in the examination. If you’re experiencing tenderness - tell and show your doctor. Bothered by headaches, indigestion, an inability to sleep, shortness of breath, excessive fatigue? Tell your doctor. After all, who better to know what constitutes ‘normal’ for you and what is indicative of change, than you? I also recommend that you speak with your significant other or family members or friends with whom you live. They can point out things that might not be as obvious to you - physical traits or symptoms that you have simply “gotten used to” that may be worth a mention to your physician.
Follow Us
