The hormone melatonin has traditionally been regarded as the hormone of darkness, because of the nightly surge in production that is associated with the sleep cycle.  It is also associated with seasonal cycles. Research over the past two decades found high levels of melatonin in the body during daytime, far too high levels to have come from the nightly production of melatonin by the tiny pineal gland in the brain.   Scientists also found more sources of melatonin in the body, with one of them linked to sunlight. What is melatonin? Melatonin is a neurohormone that is commonly known to prepare the body for sleep.  It plays a crucial role in regulating the body’s circadian rhythm, also known as the biological

A good night’s sleep is just as important for your health as healthy eating and a daily exercise routine.  Like food and water, sleep is essential for survival, no wonder we spend about one-third of our lives sleeping.  The average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep every night and less sleep on a regular basis can lead to health problems. While sleep is important for mental and physical health, there are nevertheless still unanswered and intriguing questions about sleep, such as why we dream, or have sleep cycles. What is sleep? “Sleep is the natural state of rest in which your eyes are closed, your body is inactive, and your mind does not think” is the simple definition of sleep,

The manufacturing and use of low emitting diode (LED) lighting has undergone rapid technological development in recent years, taking the world by storm. The LED light sources are small and bright, but also very energy efficient, using up to 95% less energy than traditional light sources. LEDs light up the screens of our TV’s and electronic devices, our homes, shops, and even used in creatively designed and highly visible vehicle lights. How do these tiny lights in electronic devices affect our eyes, especially those of us who spend long hours of screen-time on a daily basis? Eye care specialists and other health care professionals have over time expressed their concerns about the long term effect of the blue light emitted

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) describes a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs due to a sensation of severe discomfort. The discomfort can take the form of feelings of aching, tingling (‘pins and needles”), itching, a “buzzing” sensation, an unpleasant tickle, a “crawling of the flesh” feeling, and even limbs jerking or twitching.  These symptoms generally occur in the late afternoon or evening, and are triggered by resting, such as when sitting down for a while or when lying in bed.  Symptoms can make it difficult to fall asleep and can interfere with sleep during the night, when the symptoms tend to increase in severity. It follows that RLS is classified as a sleep disorder, and at

What is blue light? Light that the human eye is able to see is known as visible light, which consists of wavelengths of varying lengths that are seen as different colours by the human eye. Blue light has a fairly short wavelength and is found close to the invisible, but harmful, UV rays on the light spectrum. (AMD refers to the portion on the light spectrum that is deemed to be harmful to the eyes and can lead to diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).) In 1998 a new type of photoreceptor was discovered in the eye, identified as melanopsin retinal ganglion cells, which provide signals to various brain regions. One of these regions is the suprachiasmatic

Many people rely on prescription sleeping medication to be able to fall asleep and to have a good night’s rest.  These sleeping medications, usually sleeping tablets, are referred to as sedative hypnotics in the medical profession, and are not designed for long-term use. There are three main categories of sedative-hypnotics: Melatonin-receptor agonists that target melatonin receptors in the brain and tend to leave the body quickly. They are not deemed to be habit-forming. Benzodiazepines that target a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that reduces nerve activity and promotes sleep. They can be habit-forming and can lead to waking up groggy in the morning and feelings of sleepiness during the day. Nonbenzodiazepines that target GABA as well. They do not