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human biological rhythms Each year, distinguished New Zealand
born academics working abroad are invited back to deliver the Hood Fellow
lecture series at the University of Auckland, on their area of expertise.
This year it was Professor Anna Wirz Justice. She is head of the chronobiology
(body clock) unit in the neurosciences department at the University
of Basel. Anna is an international authority in the field of human biological
rhythms, and sleep and their disorders. Her lectures were of
particular interest to us at She and her team aim to understand both normal and abnormal timing and homeostatic regulation of sleep, vigilance, performance and mood. In our modern sleep deficient societies – and we are sleeping less than previous generations – more people, from shift workers to frequent flyers with jet lag are reporting debilitating (and depressing) sleep disorders. Her particular interest is in developing drug free treatments based on chronobiological principles. She has pioneered light therapy, and sleep deprivation research for depression. Light therapy has been found to be an important treatment for all kinds of depression – not just the winter blues. (Commonly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder SAD) She pointed out, New Zealanders are not exempt from lack of adequate amounts of light, with the recent emphasis on protection from the sun’s rays, because of damaging to the ozone layers of the earth’s atmosphere over this country. She also wondered about the fashion craze for wearing shades and hoodies! We need certain levels of light, measured in lux, in our houses, hospitals, schools and places of work for body clock health and maintenance of our circadian (wake/sleep) rhythms. Normal outdoor daylight is about 10,000 lux with 2000 lux even on a rainy day. Average indoor lux values may range between 100-300 lux at home. Well-lit offices are generally not much above 700 lux. Talk to your Health & Safety officer at work for Occupational Safety & Health lux recommendations. So getting out into daylight is an important part of every-one’s working lives especially if you leave for work before sunrise and return home after sunset as many do, or do shift work. Anna’s recommendations included the value of
early morning (sun glass free) exposure to sunlight where the sun’s
rays safely enter the eye, directly stimulating the pineal gland in
the brain. This promotes the production of serotonin by day
and melatonin by night required for healthy sleep and moods. Check out Wirz Justice’s website www.chronobiology.ch and try www.sunbox.co.nz for light box information. Coughs and colds have been ruining a lot of people’s breathing as well as sleep patterns since the advent of winter. Don’t be a martyr. If you are riddled with colds or ‘flu be considerate to your workmates. Stay home, sleep and recover properly. Breathe better From the B R E A T H I N G WORKS Team
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