says. “There are lots of modern
situations that can disrupt our
rhythms, and some may contribute
to health problems.”
For instance, shift workers
who must be on the job after
the sun goes down are at odds
with their biological clocks.
They may be tired at work and
have trouble falling or staying
asleep during daylight hours after
work. Studies show that shift
workers have increased risk for
heart disease, digestive disturbances,
cancer, depression, and
other health problems.
Traveling across time zones
can also disrupt your circadian
rhythms. The brain has trouble
adjusting when the time of day
suddenly changes. The result is
jet lag.
“Researchers are considering
time of day and how to sync
up with the body’s clocks in all
aspects of health, even the best
time to have surgery on specific
parts of the body,” Sesma says.
These studies may lead to new
insights for a range of clock-related
disorders, from insomnia
and jet lag to diabetes.
38 Healthy Living | Spring Issue | 2018
/www.davidsdinners.com