As part of my Health and Longevity program I focus a significant amount of time on sleep. Poor sleep is associated with an increased risk of chronic health problems such as cancer, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Prior to light bulbs people slept an average of 10 hours a night. Now the typical American gets less then seven hours of sleep. Ideally, we need 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep per night. One of the contributors to poor sleep is the use of artificial lighting and especially electronics at night. Devices, such as our phones and computers, are programmed to emit high levels of blue light in order to mimic the light wavelengths associated with sunlight. This type of light helps us feel alert and suppresses our natural melatonin production. As can be seen from the illustration below melatonin begins to rise when the sun sets which is when orange light predominates and blue light wavelengths dissipate. Simultaneously, our cortisol hormones decrease during sleep and begin to rise when we need to awaken. Melatonin helps us feel drowsy and cortisol helps feel alert. How does our body respond to blue light?
Interestingly, the Ganglion (nerves) in the back of our eye respond to blue light. When the amount of blue light decreases (dusk) this is transmitted from the nerve to the Pineal gland which secrets melatonin. Melatonin suppresses adrenal function and the release of cortisol which helps decrease alertness. With an decrease in cortisol we also get activation of the immune system. Finally, what are some practical ways to reduce your exposure to blue light at night? 1. One hour before bedtime: Turn off or dim all lights after sunset and avoid watching TV or using light emitting electronics. Research indicates that using an electronic device within one hour of bedtime can delay falling asleep for more than an hour. Another study showed that: Compared to dim light, exposure to room light before bedtime suppressed melatonin, resulting in a later melatonin onset in 99.0% of individuals and shortening melatonin duration by about 90 min. Also, exposure to room light during the usual hours of sleep suppressed melatonin by greater than 50% in most (85%) trials. This could mean it could take even more time before you are able to fall asleep. 2. After sundown, shift to low-wattage yellow bulbs. You can also install programs on your computer or phone, like f.lux, that reduce the blue wavelengths at sunset. 3. Amber colored glasses: The easiest solution may be to simply use amber colored glasses that block blue light. Studies indicate that these glasses are effective ways to not impairment melatonin production even in the presence of significant light. If the above techniques don't help and you have a sleep problem related to other factors feel free to reach out to me for a consultation.
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Is one minute of all-out exercise equivalent to 45 minutes of traditional moderate exercise?5/3/2016 We have all heard that regular exercise is important for our health. Exercise can reduce our risk for conditions such as cardiovascular disease and increase our fitness and strength. It can also help us sleep better. The current recommendations state that we should do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week. Despite this recommendation the majority of us don't follow through. One of the chief barriers cited by patients to getting regular exercise and strength training is "lack of time".
It was this in mind that I have become more and more a fan of recommending a new kind of exercise program that is often referred to as high-intensity interval training (HIIT). This type of exercise takes a lot less time but seems to provide the same health benefits. The typical HIIT exercise program starts with a short warm-up (2-3 minutes) followed by alternating all-out exercise (sprinting) "intervals" that last 20-30 seconds with short breaks of low intensity movement of 1-2 minutes. This can be repeated a few times and can be wrapped up in 10 minutes with a short cool-down at the end. Does this program provide the same benefits as the typical recommendations? More and more this type of exercise program has been studied and shown to provide similar benefits to much longer periods of moderate activity. A recent study compared two groups of young men to test this question. These men were not in shape to begin with and they all completed 3 sessions of exercise per week for 12 weeks. One group did 45 minutes of moderate activity exercise on a stationary bike. The other group only did 1 minute of all-out exercise within a 10-minute time commitment. By the end of the study both groups showed equivalent improvements in peak oxygen activity, insulin sensitivity, and skeletal muscle performance. Both groups had an increase in endurance by about 20 percent. However, they were not equivalent in terms of total time commitment. The moderate activity group spent 27 hours on the bike whereas the high-intensity group only spent 6 hours with only 36 minutes of that time being strenuous. Personally, I have been using this type of training and found it to be very beneficial. Whether it is right for you depends on your ability to do all-out exercise and your current health status. Before incorporating any exercise regimen make sure to consult our doctor first. If you would like a health assessment or exercise consultation feel free to reach to me as well. |
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