Your Internal Clock and Your Health

Do you dread the end of daylight-saving time? Are you always feeling jet-lagged after this one-hour time shift? Do you struggle with lack of energy and feeling down during the long, dark hours of the winter?

Whether you are woken up by the grumbling of your stomach in the morning or you seek the warmth of your blanket while watching late-night TV, the functioning of your body changes with the cycle of day and night. But how could your body possibly “know” what time it is? Join this evening panel to learn from the experts how your internal clock works and how it affects your health, mood, and productivity.

Topics for discussion will include the effects of daylight — saving time, jet-lag, healthy sleeping habits, timing of meals and medication, the role of your genes in your early-bird or night-owl habits, and developmental aspects of biological rhythms — such as teenagers’ preference to stay up past midnight while toddlers burst with energy at sunrise. We will illuminate practical applications of research in circadian medicine, like the impact of circadian disrupters such as blue light, caffeine and 24/7 snacking on your health; and we will examine whether current school and work hours align with the latest scientific findings in chronobiology.