Health and Wellness

  Seasonal changes affect our sleep patterns. As the season changes so does the duration of daylight hours. You may have experienced a shift in sleep patterns during the summer months when the days are longer and nights shorter. Sleep is a fundamental part of our lives, affecting physical and mental health. Increased daylight exposure affects our circadian rhythm, the internal biological clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. You may have noticed a delayed onset of sleep during the summer due to extended daylight. Conversely, during autumn and winter, your body adjusts to shorter days and feels sleepy earlier in the evening.   Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Seasonal changes not only affect sleep but can also influence your mood and mental health. SAD typically occurs in winter when daylight hours are reduced leading to fatigue, excessive sleepiness, and difficulty waking up. There is a complex relationship between light exposure, mood fluctuations, and sleep. ...

  Sleep disorders affect your  sleep . You might have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting enough rest in general. This makes it tough to function normally during the day. These disorders affect the ability to sleep well regularly and cause significant impairments in social and occupational functions. Disorders of sleep  encompass all types of dysfunctions involving sleep, including difficulty falling asleep at night, poor sleep quality, early waking, circadian rhythm disorders, parasomnias, sleep-related movement disorders, and sleep-related breathing disorders. Sleep disorders hurt your brain and body. They make it harder to focus, learn, and remember things. You’ll also feel tired all day, which can raise your risk of health problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Stages of sleep There are two main types of sleep: REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. NREM sleep has several stages, which we’ll explore in more ...