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Circadian Rhythm
Sunlight controls your body clock
What is in the book?
Chapter: Sun
UV radiation and human health
Skin disorders
Suntan, sunburn, photoageing, sensitivity
Non-cancerous growth
Skin cancer
Eye disorders
Degeneration, sunburn, sensitivity
Cataracts, non-cancerous growth
Eye cancer
Circadian rhythm disorders
Melatonin
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Be sun-smart
Daily and seasonal changes in light intensity drive most of your automatic and hormonal body functions. They influence the ‘internal clock’ – the circadian rhythm.
One obvious response of this ‘clock’ to light changes is to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. But amongst other functions, it also controls the rhythmic fluctuations in body temperature, mood and behaviour.
Light plays an important role in the biological rhythm of humans. For you, the lack of light may result in nothing else than a bad mood and hopefully doesn’t affect your daily life.
But up to 5% of people living in areas with seasonal low light suffer from the more serious seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
