tions and normal daily activities—
like sleeping, waking,
eating, and going to the bathroom—
are patterned around
this 24-hour cycle,” Sesma explains.
Your biological clock’s “settings”
are determined by specific
genes. These settings can
affect body temperature, blood
pressure, activity level, inflammation
(your body’s protective
response to injury or infection),
fertility, mood, and brain
functions. Even the timing of
health-related events can be related
to your biological clocks.
For instance, heart attacks are
more likely to occur early in
the morning, when the level of
a hormone called cortisol starts
its daily rise.
Circadian rhythms can influence
eating habits, digestion,
and metabolism (how our body
uses and stores energy), too. Researchers
have found that eating
later in the day, closer to when
melatonin is released, can disrupt
the body’s natural rhythms.
This can lead to increased body
fat and weight gain, which are
often associated with obesity,
heart disease, and diabetes.
Time of day has also been
shown to impact the effectiveness
and side effects of certain
medications, including those
used to treat cancer.
Be mindful about how you
may be altering your circadian
rhythms. “Our around-theclock
society creates challenges
for our internal clocks,” Sesma
Healthy Living | Spring Issue | 2018 37
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