Jet Lag I (The Basics)
What is Jet Lag?
Jet lag is a new condition among the human population. With the invention of air travel came the ability of the “body’s clock” to fall out of synch with the destination location’s time. The official medical name of the condition is “desynchronosis.” Jet lag is in the group of sleep disorders known as circadian rhythm sleep disorders. When people have this condition they are unable to sleep in the proper time frames necessary for work, school, or other activities. The affected person can sleep well when allowed to sleep on the schedule of their bodies clock.
Jet Lag II – Recovery Time
There are several variables that can determine the time it takes to recover from jet lag. These variables can range from diet, exercise, time of day of flight, and direction of flight. The direction of flight has a large impact on the amount of time it takes to recover from a flight. It is commonly accepted that flying east is harder to adjust to than flying west.
What is Melatonin – Technical
What is Melatonin? Melatonin is a natural compound found in plants, animals, and microbes. It is chemically known as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine.
Melatonin Structure
Melatonin Containing Foods
Melatonin also known as the “sleep hormone” is a natural hormone which is secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin acts to regulate the body’s day-night cycle, establishing the body’s “biological clock” and sleeping pattern. In individuals with insomnia, melatonin helps promote sleepiness and better quality sleep. It has also been found to be a strong antioxidant, which may help combat free radical damage to healthy cells and tissues. Due to this property of melatonin it is also being researched as a potential anti-aging hormone. There have been studies suggesting its potential as a neuroprotective and cardioprotective agent, and also as an agent in cancer therapy. Read the rest of this entry »
Melatonin – Immunity and Ageing
Ageing is characterized by a decreased immunity levels in the body, a phenomenon medically known as immunosenescence. This happens due to decreased ability of the white blood cells to respond to antigenic stimulation. The decreased immunity levels have a strong correlation with increased risk of infections, degenerative diseases and cancer in the elderly. Read the rest of this entry »
Availability of Melatonin and Dosage
Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by pineal gland. Its chemical name is N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine. Melatonin is used widely as a dietary supplement for the treatment of various sleeping disorders such as insomnia, jet lag and work shift sleep disorder. Read the rest of this entry »
What is Jet Lag – Part III
Majority of the living beings including humans, plants, animals, bacteria and viruses, show circadian rhythms. A circadian rhythm is a combination of physiological and behavioral changes that happen in an organism following a 24-hour cycle based on the amount of light and darkness in the environment. Read the rest of this entry »
Melatonin Interactions
Melatonin as a supplement is widely used as a sleeping aid. Due to its availability as over the counter drug, it is easily accessible. This makes the individuals who are taking prescription medications for some other illness, vulnerable to develop interactions between melatonin and the various prescription drugs. Read the rest of this entry »
Side Effects of Melatonin Supplementation
Melatonin is a hormone supplement which has established its use in various sleeping disorders and which has a substantial potential as an anti-oxidant. Usually sold over-the-counter, melatonin appears to be safe when used for a short period of time and in the minimum dosage required, without major side effects. However, some side-effects may occur especially when melatonin is used in high doses. Some of these are:
- Some people may develop irritable mood.
- There may be next day symptoms of drowsiness, sleepiness and disequilibrium. Read the rest of this entry »