The internal clock, or circadian rhythm, is a 24-hour cycle present in most living things. It is important for maintaining regular behavior patterns, but can be disrupted by external factors such as night work or travel. Monitoring body temperature and melatonin levels can help assess the current state of the internal clock.
Also referred to as the circadian rhythm, the internal clock is a term used to describe the roughly twenty-four-hour cycle inherent in most living things. Along with humans, plants, other mammals, and other living creatures have an internal clock. As with a clock used to tell the time, an individual’s circadian cycle is more or less constant and is determined by both internal biological functions and external stimuli resulting in behavior patterns that change the clock to some extent .
The importance of the internal clock cannot be understated. When the clock is synchronized with the individual’s daily pace, the tasks necessary to sustain life take place on a more or less regular schedule. For example, the individual becomes sleepy at approximately the same time each night and is also likely to wake up naturally at the same time in the morning. Food cravings are likely to occur around the same time each day. The combination of internal programming and external stimulation keeps the clock running on a consistent basis and thus helps ensure that the individual remains healthy.
However, external factors can also cause the internal clock to change. For example, people who work at night often experience many difficulties initially when it comes to getting enough rest. Assuming that the individual’s internal clock is set to sleep when it is dark and rise when morning comes, a period of adjustment is required before daytime sleep is possible. The creation of a semi-dark environment in which the individual tries to sleep can sometimes favor this modification process. Taking this action makes it easier to establish a new sleep cycle and achieve restful sleep during the day.
Another example of changing the internal clock concerns travel. When an individual moves from one time zone to another, the natural rhythm can be out of balance. The result is what is commonly known as jet lag, a situation where the individual feels a little tired and may experience insomnia until the body adjusts to the new time zone.
Assessing the current state of the internal clock usually involves monitoring body temperature, as well as the level of melatonin produced by the pineal gland. Observing the changes of these two factors over a period of XNUMX hours can make it easier to identify the current pattern associated with the body’s natural rhythm and compare it with the individual’s daily routine. By conducting this type of research, it is possible to determine how well an individual is adapting to changes in time, place and circumstance, and also provide clues on how to assist in that adaptation.
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