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Chronobiology and biorhythms - effects of cycles and rhythms in everyday life
Biorhythms have many medical implications. We all have a daily cycle in terms of our temperature, with daily rhythms involved in bigger monthly cycles, and seasonal cycles. For example, blood pressure peaks in the morning; bronchial tubes are more constricted in the late evenings. By examining our individual cycles (biorhythms), we might be able to prevent disease. In Chronobiology, Dr Halberg found that the timing of surgery and chemotherapy can change the outcome for a patient. According to his research, a woman who had breast cancer surgery around the time or just prior to a period, had a greater chance of the disease recurring at a later date than women who had the surgery between day 7 and 20 of the monthly cycle. Also, timing chemotherapy to match bodily biorhythms has helped with recovery in patients who had bladder, colorectal, pancreatic and ovarian cancer. The studies showed that giving the treatment when the cancer cells were active and the normal cells inactive was more effective even though lower doses were given.
Morning: - sex hormones peak - sensitivity to allergens at a low - increase in alertness Noon: - the body temperature reaches its peak - mood is at its best - sight is sharp Afternoon: - Flexibility at its peak - long term memory at its best - manual dexterity at peak Early evening: - Best time for working out - Worst time for allergies Evening: - Metabolism at its lowest Midnight: - Most accident-prone time period - Most common time for labour to begin in childbirth What is important about biorhythms is that they provide a clue as to when best undertake certain tasks. We are working with our bodies biorhythms rather than against them. We are in harmony with the nature of our bodies
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