Using artificial light we have extended our days far beyond what our early ancestors were used to. Our internal clocks are designed to be in sync with the rise and fall of the sun each day – early to bed and early to rise – but now we stay up to watch the 11 pm news and then the late show after that. The rhythm of our natural body clocks has been changed and we are paying the price in feeling tired!

A recent study from the University of Colorado suggests we can get our body clocks back in sync in only one week. The catch is that the reset occurred after camping without artificial light for one week.

The study looked at people who spent all their time in artificially lighted buildings. Their saliva was tested for levels of the sleep hormone, melatonin, after one week of normal living. The study participants were then sent camping in the Rockies for a week – they could sleep and wake up whenever they wanted and had no access to cell phones, flashlights or TV. The only light available was from sunlight or campfire. After this week their saliva was tested again.

The data showed that during both weeks the group got about the same amount of sleep but after camping, the subject’s biological clocks had shifted to align with the sun. The natural night owls became more similar to the early birds in their sleep/wake cycles. After the reset the participants reported not feeling so tired in the mornings as they had back at home.

Because most of us aren’t willing to live without electricity, the researchers suggest letting plenty of light into the bedroom early in the morning and exposing yourself to more natural light during the day. The lights should be dimmed a couple of hours before bed to allow your melatonin cycle to kick in.

If you are following these tips and still feel tired during the day you may suffer from a sleep disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea causes extreme daytime sleepiness and can cause serious health consequences if not treated. Find out more by contacting Columbus sleep apnea dentist Dr. Mark Levy today at 614-476-6696. We can schedule a consultation and discover whether sleep apnea might be the cause of your daytime sleepiness.