Rise And Shine For Better Mental Health

Early morning radio is tough on us "senior" night owls. And by tough we are talking about serious health type stuff, not just the dozing off at inappropriate times and the perpetual yawning! Not getting enough sleep can cause all kinds of health problems. Studies show 'Very short' sleep duration, defined as five hours or less, doubled the risk of dementia compared to the 'recommended' duration of seven to eight hours, so getting more sleep is the obvious answer. But manipulating WHEN you sleep can pay big health dividends too.

In fact, waking up an hour earlier each day could be really good for your mental health according to researchers from the University of Colorado. The Daily Mail reports that "getting up just one hour earlier could reduce the risk of depression by 23 per cent."

A scientific review of genetic data of over 800,000 adults and found a link between earlier sleep timing patterns -like going to bed and getting up earlier- and a lower risk of a “major depressive disorder.”

Isn't this like the confirmation of old news? Many of us will recall learning that around 1735 founding father Benjamin Franklin wrote "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Remember that?

1.-Do they even teach that to kids anymore? and 2.-Did old Ben "borrow" that from Aristotle about 2,085 years before??? The philosopher Aristotle said, "It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom."

There's been quite a bit of research done on mood and exposure to light. Radio co-host Lance Tormey has often talked about feeling depressed in the gloomy days of winter (before he rekindled his "Ski-nut flame" a few years back) and how he used light therapy to try to lift his mood.

Researchers found the increased exposure to light not only helps your tan (use sunscreen) but possibly creates a flood of hormones that can influence your mood.

Categories: Consumer Awareness, Health and Fitness, Science, Weird News