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Circadian system in adolescents and the use of light therapy
Kučerová, Jana ; Červená, Kateřina (advisor) ; Pačesová, Dominika (referee)
Circadian rhythms, as regularly recurring events in living organisms with a period of approximately 24 hours, are an important part of life on Earth. To keep the period of the internal circadian clock of an organism in line with the cycle of the Earth Day, synchronization of this clock is necessary. The most important factor in synchronizing the circadian clock is light, which provides the brain with information about the phase of the Earth Day. The individual setting of the circadian clock, which is manifested in the form of a chronotype, has a profound effect on the life of the individual. Chronotypes change throughout life, and the most significant changes occur during adolescence, when the overall chronotype shifts. This results in adolescents going to bed later even though they have to get up early for school. This is also why they are more likely to suffer from sleep deprivation, be inattentive at school or fall asleep during lessons. Consequently, they experience, often with significant, social jet lag, which is a health risk. Light therapy offers a solution. This paper presents its general use, as well as specific examples of its use with delayed adolescents. However, there are also other ways to improve the situation of adolescents, e.g., delaying the start time of school in the morning,...
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Chronotypes and Social Jet Lag Related to Obesity
Halászová, Andrea ; Fárková, Eva (advisor) ; Červená, Kateřina (referee)
In nature we can observe plenty of actions which show some kind of regularity as they repeat with a certain period. The circadian rhythm with its period of approximately one day belongs among these. The circadian rhythm is synchronized mainly by light, but there are also many other internal and especially external synchronizers such as the society we live in. In an organism many processes show circadian rhythmicity, but everyone has the rhythm adjusted individualy, thus called chronotype. It's indeed very important to note that living in harmony with the chronotype is essential. Social jet lag is the term for a long-term disbalance and circadian desynchrony as a consequence of the need to adjust this individual circadian preference to the regime set by the society we live in. Many of recent studies support the findings, that social jet lag might have an impact on health and could participate in development of some of the lifestyle diseases such as obesity. Therefore it should be found beneficial to apply those finding in a clinic practise not only in order to help with an efficient treatment of obesity and its consequences but also in preventing it.
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