Waking up before the sun could be harming your health, according to a new study.
Scientists in Melbourne, Australia said the act of getting up at ridiculous o’clock can cause ‘social jet lag’, which refers to the difference between when a person is forced to wake up and when they wake up naturally.
When the sun rises, the body’s melatonin - the hormone which helps people sleep - is naturally suppressed. At the same time, the body’s internal cortisol levels, which gives people energy, rise.
When a person is forced to wake up instead of waking up naturally, however, these hormones don’t work as they should.
This hormone imbalance can increase the risk of:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Depression
Thankfully there are ways to mitigate some of these risks, such as cutting out caffeine later in the day, eating a big breakfast to set you up for the day and using alarm clocks that simulate the sunrise.
Happy snoozing.
