Chennai: Following a daily routine in the contemporary times of busy schedules is hard, but it is necessary for the wellness of mental health of an individual.
A recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet Psychiatry says that cognitive functioning and mental health is affected if there are disruption in the normal routine of waking up and sleeping can increase the risk of dipolar disorder or depression.
The study analysed the disruptions in the circadian rhythms- the daily sleep-wake cycles of around 90,000 adults using a wrist wearable device called an accelerometer that measures daily activity of an individual.
The analysis revealed that individuals with increased activity at night and decreased activity during the day or both were more likely to suffer depression or bipolar disorder. The activity levels of the participants were measured over a seven-day period, who were later analysed for cognitive functioning using a questionnaire.
Medicos say that regular sleep-wake cycle impacts the mental health along with cognitive functioning of the brain affecting memory and other skills.
The body’s natural sleep-wake cycle tells the body to sleep at night and be awake during the day. Youngsters these days are habitual of sleeping late nights and waking up late, but the disruptions in daily cycle impacts health.
The daily fluctuations in body functions such as body temperature, hormone production and blood pressure stay oriented to daytime living. Cycle of sunlight and darkness, the tendency to revert to daytime living prevents the body from adjusting to a modified sleep-wake schedule, said Dr N Ramakrishnan, senior consultant, critical care and sleep medicine, Apollo Hospitals.
“It puts people at risk for chronic sleep disruption and impacts overall lifestyle of an individual and may result in significant health problems health problems such as sleep disorders, stomach ailments, heart disease and mental health problems,” he said.
