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Posted on Sep 30, 2002, 7 a.m.
By Bill Freeman
Results of a new study have shown that being woken in the middle of the night and exposed to bright light can throw the body clock off course for the next few days. Furthermore, even being woken while sleeping in a dark room can have a disruptive effect upon the body's internal rhythm, although to a lesser extent.
Results of a new study have shown that being woken in the middle of the night and exposed to bright light can throw the body clock off course for the next few days. Furthermore, even being woken while sleeping in a dark room can have a disruptive effect upon the body's internal rhythm, although to a lesser extent. Altogether, the researchers found that mid-night waking caused the body clock to run up to an hour and a half slow, thus delaying the release of hormones and other bodily functions that usually occur upon wakening. However, study leader Samir Bangalore says that being interrupted during sleep will not damage health but will simply make a person feel tired in the morning and more awake in the early evening.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 18th April 2002
