oleh admin | Jul 11, 2024 | brain health, health, health and exercise, lifestyle, psychology
Individuals who stay up late demonstrated superior performance in mental assessments compared to those who wake early, according to research. However, this does not imply that everyone should operate throughout the nighttime hours.
Do you consider yourself a “night owl” who prefers staying up late and working deep into the evening, or perhaps a “morning lark” who rises early to make full use of the morning hours? Regardless of whether you see this as a choice, a routine, or simply part of your nature, it defines your “chronotype.”
A study indicates that your sleep schedule type might influence your overall mental abilities. It was observed that individuals who prefer staying up late typically scored higher cognitively compared to those who wake early.
The research from the UK, released on July 11, 2024, in the journal
BMJ Public Health
examined information from over 26,000 individuals who had undertaken several cognitive assessments.
The objective was to determine how various facets of sleep—such as length, routines, and quality—influenced mental acuity and comprehensive cognitive function.
What the ‘night owl’ study found
They discovered that sleeping between
7-9 hours a night
proved ideal for optimal brain function. However, they discovered that an individual’s chronotype influenced their test performance.
Individuals who were inherently more energetic during evenings scored higher on cognitive assessments compared to those who preferred mornings,” stated lead author Raha West from Imperial College London, UK, in a press release. “These sleep-wake tendencies aren’t merely individual choices; they can influence how well we process information.
However, this doesn’t imply that all early risers experience poorer cognitive function. “The results show a general pattern where most night owls tend to exhibit superior cognitive abilities,” explained West.
Moreover, your chronotype is not fixed—you have the flexibility to adjust it in any direction. Additionally, merely ensuring a restful night’s sleep can enhance your cognitive abilities as well.
The study of sleep patterns known as chronotypes
Chronotypes aren’t fixed—they can change throughout our lives.
“Kids usually prefer mornings, teenagers and young adults lean more toward evenings, and older people frequently return to a preference for mornings,” explained Feifei Wang, a sleep specialist from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary.
However, Wang stated that there was substantial proof indicating our tendencies regarding sleep and wakefulness periods remained consistent over time, even
When we change time zones
.
“Whether someone tends to be more active in the mornings or evenings depends on a mix of genetic, hormonal, environmental, and lifestyle elements. These components work together to define a person’s chronotype,” explained Wang, who did not participate in this latest research.
Chronotypes are partially determined by variations in our circadian rhythms—the internal bodily clocks responsible for regulating crucial processes like sleep and metabolism.
The genes associated with an individual’s internal body clock encompass those known as “CLOCK,” “PER,” and “CRY.” These play a significant role in determining one’s chronotype. As Wang explained to LIFEHACK, they determine “whether someone leans more towards being a morning person or an evening person.”
However, you can teach yourself to become a morning person or an evening person.
“We have demonstrated that undergraduate students can shift their chronotypes forward by nearly two hours within a span of two years,” stated Ignacio Estevan, a sleep specialist from Universidad de la República in Montevideo, Uruguay. It’s worth noting that Estevan was not part of the recent research.
‘Till dawn studies’ impair exam scores
Estevan has explored the link between chronotypes and academic performance. His findings indicate that the test scores of night owls and early birds were influenced by the time of day the tests were administered.
“Estevan reported that individuals with laterchronotype preferences performed poorly academically during morning shifts when compared to those who woke up earlier. This difference wasnot observedduringtheafternoonshifts,” he explainedtoLIFEHACK, emphasizingthathisstudyaddedtoscientificevidenceindicatingthatschoolstarttimesaffectchildren’sacademicresults.
Certain specialists believe that synchronizing school schedules with students’ natural body clocks could improve their future prospects.
In conclusion, stated Estevan, both testing and cognitive performance were contingent upon
good quality sleep
Research generally indicates that individuals who get more sleep tend to achieve higher scores on exams.
Estevan mentioned that this could be attributed to the significance of sleep for both learning processes and optimal brain function. His studies have revealed that pulling an ‘all-nighter’ to cram at the last minute negatively impacts exam performance.
“Approximately 15% of the students in our research didn’t get any sleep prior to the exam, and their performance was the poorest,” stated Estevan.
What’s the most effective approach for getting a restful night’s sleep? According to Wang, maintaining a consistent bedtime routine, ensuring your sleeping space is dim and peaceful, making an effort to unwind, avoiding caffeine and stimulating substances post-dusk, and minimizing nighttime light exposure—especially right before bed—are key steps.
Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany
Primary source:
Sleep duration, chronotype, health, and lifestyle factors influence cognitive function: A UK Biobank cross-sectional analysis; published by Raha West, Daqing Ma, et al. in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine (July 2024).
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2024-001000
Author: Fred Schwaller
oleh admin | Jun 20, 2024 | exercise, exercise for weight loss, health & fitness, health and exercise, working out
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EXPLORE FURTHER: Fitness professionals share their insights on the optimal hour for exercising.
The eternal question remains: When is the optimal time of day to exercise?
However, a fascinating recent study appears to have addressed this issue.
A study conducted in Spain revealed that individuals who engaged in physical activities such as jogging or biking at 6 PM experienced reduced blood glucose levels compared to those who exercised earlier in the day.
The scientists contended that this indicated late exercisers exhibited greater activity
metabolism
and found it easier to withstand hunger cravings.
This indicated that they would both expend more calories throughout the day and take in lesser energy, they proposed.
Research indicates that typically, muscle cells tend to lose their ability to take up blood glucose during the evening hours due to a decrease in insulin levels at that time.
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However, working out in the evening increases insulin levels, which makes it simpler for cells to take up glucose from the blood and use it as fuel.
In this study, scientists monitored 186 middle-aged Spaniards, primarily those who were obese, over a period of two weeks.
Every participant used an accelerometer for monitoring physical activity and a continuous blood glucose monitor to keep track of their blood sugar levels.
The exercise periods were divided into three segments: morning from 6 am to 12 pm, afternoon from 12 pm to 6 pm, or evening from 6 pm to 12 am.
The researchers subsequently contrasted blood glucose levels between inactive subjects, who abstained from exercising for 24 hours, and those who engaged in physical activity at various intervals.
Dr. Antonio Clavero-Jimeno, a sports scientist at the University of Granada,
Spain
, among others, noted in the study: ‘Engaging in exercise during the evening seems to positively impact blood glucose levels in inactive adults who are obese.’
The research was conducted solely among individuals who were obese or overweight, so it remains uncertain if these findings are applicable to people with a healthy weight.
However, this aligns with previous research indicating that working out later in the day is most effective for shedding pounds.
A research conducted at the University of Sydney, Australia, revealed that overweight individuals who engaged in physical activity post-6 pm exhibited roughly a 36 percent decreased likelihood of developing heart disease.
Of those who exercised prior to this period, the advantage was merely half as much—or equating to a 17 percent lower likelihood of developing the condition.
A study conducted in 2022 in Germany with 5,000 participants who were either overweight or obese discovered that individuals exercising in the evenings experienced up to a 25 percent decrease in their insulin resistance.
Several weight-loss studies indicate that exercising in the morning may be most effective for shedding pounds.
These findings are derived from data indicating that individuals who work out during these hours often have lower body weights compared to those who exercise in the evening.
However, these aspects do not consider other variables, like individuals who are more health-conscious may be inclined to begin their day with an exercise routine.
According to physicians, any level of physical activity at any point during the day can contribute to weight loss in individuals who are obese, provided they do not consume more calories than their body requires.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), individuals should aim for a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity each week.
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oleh admin | Jun 20, 2024 | back pain, health, health and exercise, lower back pain, walking
According to a recent study, individuals who walked for 30 minutes five times per week experienced a nearly 50% reduction in episodes of lower back pain. The researchers suggested that increased emphasis on preventative measures could result in significant cost savings down the line.
A recent study featured in the medical journal The Lancet suggests that frequent walking can be an inexpensive and simple method for possibly preventing various health issues.
recurring back pain
.
The trials demonstrated that patients who engaged in 30-minute walks five days per week and received guidance from a physical therapist experienced less frequent exacerbations compared to those in the control group.
The research team noted that patients experienced an enhanced perception of their overall quality of life, and the duration of work absence decreased by nearly fifty percent.
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Inexpensive and simple activities suitable for nearly everyone.
The writers expressed optimism that these inexpensive and straightforward measures could have a “significant effect” on a condition that is the primary source of disability globally.
“Walking is an affordable, easily available, and straightforward form of physical activity that nearly everyone can participate in, irrespective of their geographical setting, age, or economic background,” stated co-author Mark Hancock, a physiotherapy professor at Macquarie University in Australia.
It is estimated that approximately 800 million individuals globally experience lower back pain. Among those who recuperate from an initial incident, about seven out of ten often encounter another bout within one year.
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What was the process of the research like?
The research tracked 700 adults who had recently overcome an instance of lower back pain over a span of up to three years.
One half was randomly selected for a personalized walking regimen along with support from a physical therapist, whereas the remaining participants formed a control group and followed their own individual or medically recommended actions.
Hancock stated that the intervention group experienced less frequent activity-limiting pain than the control group, and also saw a prolonged average time until their next episode, with a median duration of 208 days versus 112 days for the control group.
How could walking benefit your back health?
“Although we’re not entirely sure why walking effectively helps prevent back pain, it probably involves several factors: the rhythmic up-and-down motions, which load and strengthen spinal components and surrounding muscles; the opportunity for relaxation and reduction of stress; and the boost from feel-good chemicals called endorphins,” Hancock suggested.
He mentioned that walking provided numerous additional significant health advantages, such as enhancing cardiovascular fitness, increasing bone density, promoting weight loss, and boosting mental well-being.
The researchers pointed out that lower back pain has increasingly become a widespread health issue globally due to extended lifespans and more inactive working and recreational activities.
They additionally mentioned that given the increasing strain on healthcare systems globally, an insufficient amount of resources was being allocated to research, prevention, and treatment in this field.
msh/sms (dpa, Lancet)
oleh admin | Jun 18, 2024 | exercise, health & fitness, health and exercise, healthy living, healthy workouts
Abandon activities like lawn bowling or leisurely swimming; instead, seniors should consider taking up weightlifting for a healthier retirement, according to research.
Resistance training showed lasting strength advantages extending many years into retirement, rendering it an excellent choice of workout for older adults.
As individuals age, they inherently experience a decline in muscular functionality, which manifests as weakened grips and diminished leg power. These factors are considered significant indicators of mortality in senior citizens.
Weightlifting, using either free weights, your own bodyweight, or resistance bands, has been demonstrated to aid in preventing such occurrences.
Scientists aimed to investigate the lasting impacts of a year-long supervised strength-training regimen involving heavyweights.
With participants averaging the age of 71, 451 retirees were split into groups of either a year of heavy resistance training, moderate-intensity training or of no additional exercise on top of their usual activity.
Participants who were assigned specific weights engaged in programs three times weekly, whereas those involved in moderate-intensity training performed routines that included bodyweight exercises and resistance band workouts over the same duration.
Every workout in the strength training session consisted of three series with six to twelve reps, using seventy to eighty-five percent of the individual’s peak lifting capacity for each rep.
At the beginning of the study, measurements were taken for bone and muscle strength as well as body fat percentages. These same metrics were reassessed after one year, two years, and four years.
After four years, individuals in the heavy weight training group managed to maintain their leg strength, whereas those who did not exercise or only exercised moderately experienced a decline in strength during this period.
Publishing their findings in the journal BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, the researchers determined that “for healthy older individuals around retirement age, engaging in intense strength training for one year can lead to lasting positive impacts by maintaining muscular functionality.”
The three groups showed no distinction in leg extensor power—the capacity to forcefully and rapidly push against a pedal—handgrip strength (an indicator of general muscular strength), and lean leg mass (body weight minus fat content). All of these measures saw reductions across the board.
The levels of visceral fat, located internally around organs, went up for individuals who did not work out. However, these measurements remained unchanged among participants in both exercise groups.
The researchers, which included members from the University of Copenhagen, noted that participants in the study tended to be more physically active, averaging almost 10,000 steps per day, compared to the general public.
They included: “This research demonstrates that engaging in strength training using heavy weights even when people reach retirement age can yield benefits lasting for multiple years.”
Consequently, these findings offer tools for professionals and policymakers to motivate elderly people to participate in intense strength training sessions.
Read more
oleh admin | Jun 14, 2024 | exercise, health & fitness, health and exercise, running and fitness, walking
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With each 1 percent increment in step variability, there was an increase in energy consumption.
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READ MORE:
Experts claim that 10,000 steps per day isn’t a magical solution.
Reaching 10,000 steps daily has become a widespread health objective for many people around the globe.
However, a more efficient option might prove effective for shedding pounds, according to experts.
Walking with an irregular pace might aid in burning more calories compared to taking evenly measured strides, according to research.
American researchers monitoring the activities of 18 fit participants found that for each 1 percent increase in stride variation, there was a corresponding 0.7 percent boost in energy consumption.
The study indicated that inconsistent steps ‘have a minor but notable impact’ on the energy expended during walking, according to the researchers.
The team failed to gauge the number of calories expended by the participants.
Nevertheless, Adam Grimmitt, a co-author of the study and an expert in exercise physiology at the University of
Massachusetts
Amherst stated, “It seems reasonable to conclude that greater and more frequent changes in step length would lead to an increased metabolic rate during walking.”
In the study, the participants—ranging from 24 years old and averaging 11 stone 1 pound (70.5 kg)—were instructed to walk at their usual pace for five minutes on a treadmill.
A motion capture system documented their typical stride length at a usual pace of 1.2 meters per second.
They subsequently controlled their movements during a second 5-minute treadmill walking session by illuminating specific areas for the participants to target.
Positions were adjusted by as much as five and 10 percent below or above the typical stride length.
Each volunteer was equipped with a mouthpiece that measured their carbon dioxide output rate, which increases during physical activity.
The discoveries, shared on a pre-print server,
bioRxiv
The researchers suggest that when individuals transition between maintaining stability over short steps and long steps, it can lead to increased muscle contractions and subsequently higher metabolic costs.
‘Their findings indicate that a 2.7 percent rise in step length variability could lead to a 1.7 percent increase in the energy required for walking,’ they noted.
‘The variation in step length moderately but importantly influences the energy expended during walking.’
The research might be most applicable to elderly individuals, especially those suffering from neurological disorders, since their walking patterns show ‘higher step length variability,’ they added.
Researchers, nevertheless, admitted that adjusting lengths in 5 percent increments differs from actual variations observed in natural walking patterns.
The participants still found it difficult to maintain precision when adjusting their stride lengths without extra guidance, they noted.
‘Studies focused on the future should measure the precision of foot positioning and muscle activity across comparable virtual displays.’
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oleh admin | Jun 12, 2024 | health, health & fitness, health and exercise, health tips, science
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READ MORE:
The ideal equation for getting back on track with your sleep unveiled
A lot of us sometimes skip an additional hour of rest to make it to the gym before starting our day, or attend an early morning meeting.
However, have you noticed that sometimes even with reduced sleep, you feel unusually alert?
It’s a fascinating puzzle that has lately caught attention in various parts of the online world, including
Reddit
and
TikTok
.
In a video that has garnered over 30,000 views, TikToker Nathan Beaudinn posed a question to his audience about why he feels much more energetic when he gets less sleep.
On the online discussion platform Reddit, a user posed this question: “Why do I feel less fatigued and more energized upon waking up after getting fewer than seven hours of sleep, whereas if I get more than that, I end up feeling awful?”
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Currently, experts who spoke with SANGGRALOKA have unveiled the intriguing explanation.
It is believed that this occurs due to the brain employing compensatory strategies aimed at addressing a deficiency in sleep.
“The body and mind are attempting to adjust to whichever problem or lack they are encountering,” Dr. Sam A. Kashani, a board-certified sleep medicine specialist at UCLA Health, explained to SANGGRALOKA.
That’s why we’ve survived for millennia upon millennia, as regardless of whatever stressor comes our way—be it sudden or long-term—our mind and body will inherently strive to adjust and find a way to function despite it.
As stated by the National Institute for Health, getting between seven and nine hours of sleep each night is best for peak mental and physical well-being.
If it’s any lower, your body, brain, and behavior will adapt to ensure you continue functioning even when you haven’t had enough rest, according to Dr. Ankit Parekh, an assistant professor of sleep medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who spoke with SANGGRALOKA.
This includes generating additional ‘alertness’ substances that keep your body awake and briefly boost your concentration level, Dr Parekh explained. Examples of these include cortisol, referred to as the stress hormone, and adrenaline.
Following a good night’s rest, many individuals experience their highest cortisol levels in the morning, which then gradually decrease over the course of the day, as stated.
Dr. David Rosenberg
, who engages in family medicine practice in
Florida
.
However, when you receive less sleep than required, you can disrupt this cycle, leading your body to generate cortisol at irregular times, like during later parts of the day.
Dr. Parekh mentioned this could make you feel like your energy levels are elevated during the later part of the day or in the evening.
Nevertheless, if you consistently get inundated with stress hormones, these could start taking a toll on your physical health.
For instance, persistently elevated cortisol levels may result in hypertension, an impaired immune response, and increased blood glucose which can contribute to type 2 diabetes.
diabetes
,
according to Cleveland Clinic
.
This additional strain on your brain cells hinders their normal function, causing you to feel even more fatigued over time.
Dr. Parekh mentioned, “You might think that sleeping less makes you more vigilant. However, as you stay awake for longer periods with minimal sleep, you’ll begin noticing its impact, and before long, you’ll understand the importance of recuperation.”
Research indicates that cognitive performance drops significantly due to insufficient sleep — despite feeling awake.
One study
from the
University of Pennsylvania along with Harvard
discovered that volunteers who have had poor sleep perform worse on learning tests but report feeling completely alert.
The scientists indicated that the participants appeared to be ‘mostly oblivious’ to the growing impacts of sleep deprivation.
Dr. Parekh states that according to brain scan research, individuals lacking sufficient sleep must exert considerably more effort to concentrate compared to those who get adequate rest.
Dr. Kashani mentioned that another element affecting one’s sense of alertness could be anxiety.
The stressful situations that haunt your nights and lead to poorer quality of sleep might also cause you to feel more awake during the daytime, he explained.
This ‘vicious cycle’ can be tough to escape from, and even though you might feel more awake initially, you will start experiencing the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation over time.
An additional explanation for why you may feel more alert despite getting less sleep could be due to an increase in consuming stimulants that boost your brain activity as a result of lacking sleep.
For instance, if you typically have coffee during most mornings, you may find yourself pouring an additional cup unintentionally. Generally, the higher your caffeine intake, the more likely you are to experience heightened alertness.
Lastly, there’s a slim possibility that you belong to an uncommon subset of individuals who thrive with minimal sleep compared to the typical person, according to Dr. Parekh.
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EMAIL: Health@SANGGRALOKA
Scientists are uncertain about the exact number of individuals who fall under this category – those impacted by short sleeper syndrome – but they have definitively identified it in approximately
Fifty Families Across the Globe
as per Cleveland Clinic.
It’s believed to be caused by a rare genetic alteration inherited from parents rather than something that develops over your lifetime.
Miraculously, short sleepers manage to obtain four to six hours of rest each night and yet remain full of energy. Additionally, they usually do not rely on alarm clocks and find it simple to fall asleep when nighttime comes.
Famously,
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
is claimed to fall under this category, requiring just four hours of sleep each night.
However, if you belong to the large group of individuals who require more than four hours of sleep, you’ll start feeling the impacts gradually as your consistent sleep duration falls below this threshold, according to Dr. Kashani.
In the near future, you might face difficulties concentrating, acquiring knowledge, and understanding others’ feelings if you receive fewer than eight hours of sleep.
according to the NIH.
You may become more easily irritated and short-tempered than usual, making interactions with others challenging.
Dr. Parekh mentioned that when we lack sleep, our body experiences increased inflammation, which gradually weakens all our internal systems—from the brain to the heart.
This could be one of the reasons why, over time, insufficient sleep has been associated with various health issues such as heart disease, kidney problems, diabetes, strokes, weight gain, depression, and hypertension, as stated by the NIH. Additionally, Dr. Kashani mentioned that it may lead to degenerative disorders including dementia.
This could also raise your chances of getting into accidents such as vehicular collisions.
In total, Dr. Kashani mentioned that numerous individuals ‘downplay’ the significance of sleep.
Adequate rest is essential for maintaining good health, he emphasized. He further stated, “The crucial sleep habit is simply to get enough sleep whenever your body requires it.”
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