Circadian rhythms and light therapy

We spend about a third or a quarter of our lives sleeping, yet sleep still remains a big unknown. We know that some interesting things happen to our bodies while we sleep, but there are probably many others that the scientific world has not yet discovered. 

What is certain is that, during sleep, we enter an altered state of consciousness, in which most of our sensory functions are inhibited. Almost all voluntary muscles are completely still, and most muscle activity is suppressed, creating a form of "paralysis." And then, we dream. That is, we have "mental images" that often take the form of a story with an unusual or coherent narrative, so much so that it seems real. 

Sleep is essential for good physical, cognitive, and emotional health, and to better understand it, it is necessary to talk about the different cycles that characterize it. Sleep cycles have been identified by monitoring brain waves . During sleep, in fact, our brain emits specific rhythmic brain waves depending on the stage of sleep we are in.  In order for sleep to be fully restorative, you need to go through these stages: 

• Falling asleep (phase one) – In this stage, we are in transition between wakefulness and sleep. We are in a state of drowsiness in which it is very easy to wake up; However, when the body begins to relax the muscles, it quickly moves on to the next phase. 
• Light Sleep (Stage Two) – During Stage Two sleep, the body begins to slow down normal functions such as breathing and heart rate. Your body temperature begins to drop and it becomes more difficult to be woken up by your surroundings. Normally, during the night, you spend about half of your time sleeping at this stage. 
• Deep Sleep (Stage Three) – Stage three sleep is also known as slow-wave sleep where breathing, heart rate, and body temperature are all decreased and it becomes harder to wake up. This sleep is very restorative and occurs mainly in the first half of the night. 
• REM sleep (stage four) – Stage four sleep is different from other stages because the brain is very active. All muscles are at rest, except for the eye muscles whose rapid movement gives its name to REM, an acronym for Rapid Eye Movement. Most dreams normally occur in REM sleep, which is considered essential for many important cognitive functions. 
  

Each sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes, and in one night it is normal to switch from one phase to another. It is a progression that is repeated, typically, four or five times in a row. Needless to say , sleep disruptions can impair sleep cycles, making sleep less restorative. In fact, people who wake up frequently while sleeping may not experience much or no sleep at all in phase three and phase four, causing them to feel tired and causing adverse health effects over time.   

There are various causes for which sleep can be disturbed, due to certain systemic diseases (for example, thyroid, heart failure or high blood pressure), but others attributable to poor  sleep hygiene, which includes habits such as the consumption of coffee, alcohol, heavy meals, workouts in the evening before bedtime. 

Alteration of the circadian rhythm, which is the biological rhythm that influences multiple processes in the body, is one of the causes of sleep disorder. It occurs when the person's internal sleep-wake schedule (clock) is not aligned with the Earth's cycle of darkness (night) and light (day). There are many different factors that can affect your circadian rhythm, but the most impactful is light.   The light that enters our eyes affects our circadian rhythm, alerting us when it's time to be awake and when it's time to go to sleep. 

When light decreases during the day, the body begins to produce melatonin, a hormone that plays an important role in promoting sleep, bringing the sleep-wake cycle into the sleep phase. The reduced intensity of the light is important to stimulate the release of melatonin in the evening, but also the type of light. The blue hues of high light energy, those of computer screens and mobile phones, suppress the production of melatonin. In order not to disturb the circadian rhythm, it is therefore advisable not to look at screens with blue light. 

In recent years, it has also been seen that using red light therapy can improve circadian rhythm synchronization and reduce sleepiness during the afternoon. One study applied red light in an office setting and found that the effect it had on workers' circadian rhythms led to improved energy levels after lunch, a time of day when energy levels are often low. The study  also showed better function of their circadian rhythms. 

In addition to improving the overall circadian rhythm, other research has shown that exposing the body to red light improved sleep quality and helped improve melatonin production. 

Taopatch®, our nanotechnology medical device, emits a wide spectrum of wavelengths that include those in the red and near-infrared and can offer similar benefits, but continuously because it is wearable 24 hours a day. It is a mini laser that can improve our body's ability to release neurotransmitters that counterbalance stress. Placed on specific points, Taopatch EMOTION, the device designed specifically for emotional treatment, can regulate circadian sleep/wake rhythms, improving sleep quality.    ®

If you also want to improve your sleep quality and see how Taopatch® can help you, visit www.taopatch.com 

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