Biological rhythms of health mean the cyclical nature of processes occurring in the body. A person’s internal rhythms are influenced by external factors:

• natural (radiation from the Moon, Earth and Sun);
• social (shifts at the enterprise).

Biorhythmologists or chronobiologists study biorhythms. They believe that biorhythms are periodic processes that occur in living matter. These processes can cover completely different time periods: from a couple of seconds to tens of years. Changes in biological rhythms can be caused by various processes. They can be external (ebb and flow) and internal (heart function).

Classification of biorhythms

The main criterion for dividing rhythms into groups is their duration. Chronibiologists will distinguish three types of human biological rhythms. The longest ones are called low-frequency ones. The amplitude of such fluctuations in the functioning of the body is determined by lunar, seasonal, monthly or weekly intervals. As examples of processes that obey low-frequency rhythms, we can highlight the work of the endocrine and reproductive systems.

The second group includes mid-frequency rhythms. They are limited to a time period from 30 minutes to 6 days. According to the laws of such oscillations, the metabolic process and the process of cell division in the body operate. Periods of sleep and wakefulness are also subject to these biorhythms.

High frequency rhythms last less than 30 minutes. They are determined by the work of the intestines, heart muscle, lungs and the speed of biochemical reactions.

In addition to the types mentioned above, there are also fixed biorhythms. They are understood as rhythms, the duration of which is always 90 minutes. These are, for example, emotional fluctuations, changes in sleep phases, periods of concentration and heightened attention.

Of particular interest is the fact that biological cycles can be inherited and are determined genetically. Ecology also influences them.

Types of biological rhythms

From birth, the human body is subject to the influence of three rhythms:

• intellectual,
• emotional,
• physical.

A person’s intellectual biological rhythm determines his mental abilities. In addition, he is responsible for caution and rationality in behavior. Representatives of intellectual professions can most strongly feel the influence of this biorhythm: teachers, scientists, professors and financiers. The ability to concentrate and perceive information depends on intellectual biocycles.

The emotional biorhythm is responsible for a person’s mood. It affects perception and sensitivity, and can also transform the range of human sensations. It is because of this rhythm that people tend to change their mood throughout the day. It is responsible for creativity, intuition and the ability to empathize. Women and artistic people are more susceptible to this cycle. The emotional state caused by fluctuations in this rhythm affects family relationships, love, and sex.

Physical biorhythm is directly related to the functioning of the human body. It determines internal energy, endurance, reaction speed and metabolism. Reaching its peak, this biological rhythm increases the body's ability to recover. This is of particular importance for athletes and people whose activities involve physical activity.

Change of biorhythms during the day

The most noticeable changes in biological rhythms are observed throughout the day. They determine favorable hours for work, sleep, rest, learning new information, eating and playing sports. For example, the period from 7 to 8 am is the best time for breakfast, and the time from 16 to 18 o'clock is most suitable for intellectual work.

Human daily biorhythms easily and quickly adapt to time zones. The process of the human body resembles an internal clock. And, as in the case of the transition to winter time, when changing the belt, the body itself “turns the arrows” in the direction it needs.

Indicators of biological rhythms may fluctuate somewhat in favor of the individual characteristics of the human body. In addition, there are several chronotypes that have different circadian rhythms.

Human chronotypes

Based on the nature of daily activity, three types of people are distinguished:

• owls,
• larks,
• pigeons

What is remarkable is that only a small percentage of people are completely chronotypical. The vast majority represent transitional forms between “owls” and “pigeons” and “pigeons” and “larks”.

“Night owl people” usually go to bed after midnight, get up late and are most active in the evening and at night. The behavior of early risers is the opposite: they get up early, go to bed earlier and are more active earlier in the day.

With “pigeons” everything is more interesting. They get up later than early risers, but also go to bed closer to midnight. Their activity is more evenly distributed throughout the day. It is generally accepted that “pigeons” are only an adapted form. That is, people who live with such a biological rhythm simply adapt to their work or study schedule, while the other two chronotypes have their own characteristics from birth.

A sudden change in daily routine can cause deterioration in well-being and uncontrollable mood swings. It will be extremely difficult to combat such a condition, and it will be difficult to restore the normal rhythm of the body’s functioning. Therefore, a clear daily routine is not a luxury, but a way to always be in a good mood.

Biological rhythms of human internal organs

Not only the biological rhythms of the body, but also of individual parts are of particular importance for a person and his health. Each organ is an independent unit and works in its own rhythm, which also changes throughout the day.

The time from 1 to 3 am is considered the liver period. From 7 to 9 am the stomach works best. This is why tomorrow is called the most important meal of the day. From 11 to 13 o'clock in the afternoon is the most favorable time for the heart muscle, so training carried out at this time gives greater results. From 15 to 17 hours the urinary tract is most active. Some people report that they experience stronger and more frequent urges to pee during this period of time. Kidney time starts at 5 pm and ends at 7.

The functioning of your internal organs can be disrupted by poor nutrition, poor sleep patterns, and excessive physical and psychological stress.

Methods for calculating biorhythms

If a person knows how his body works, he can plan his work, study and other activities with greater efficiency. Determining health biorhythms is quite simple. The result will be true for all chronobiological types.

To calculate the exact biological cycles of the body, you need to multiply the number of days in a year by age, with the exception of leap years. Then multiply the number of leap years by 366 days. Both resulting indicators are added together. After this, you need to divide the resulting number by 23, 28 or 33, depending on what rhythm you need to calculate.

As is known, each fluctuation in the biological rhythm goes through three stages: a low-energy phase, a high-energy phase and critical days. If you need to know your physical condition, it is determined by a 23-day cycle. The first 11 days will be days of good health, greater resistance to stress, and sexual desire. From 12 to 23 days, increased fatigue, weakness, and poor sleep appear. During this period you need to rest more. Days numbered 11, 12 and 23 can be considered critical.

The 28-day cycle determines emotional indicators. Energy will be high for the first 14 days. This is a favorable time for friendship, love and relationships. The person will be overwhelmed with emotions, all creative abilities will intensify. The period from 14 to 28 will be a time of decline in emotional strength, passivity, and reduced performance. There are only two critical days in the cycle: 14 and 28. They are characterized by the emergence of conflicts and decreased immunity.

The intellectual cycle lasts 33 days. In the first 16 days, the ability to think clearly and clearly, increased concentration, good memory and general mental activity are observed. In the remaining days of the cycle, reactions are slowed down, a creative decline occurs and a decrease in interest in everything. On the three critical days of the cycle (16, 17, 33), it becomes extremely difficult to concentrate, errors in work, absent-mindedness, and risk of accidents and other incidents due to inattention appear.

For a faster calculation, you can use the human biorhythm calculator. You can find many different resources on the Internet where, in addition to the calculation applications themselves, you can read reviews from real people about them.

Knowledge of the biological rhythms of the body can help a person achieve his goals, harmonize interpersonal relationships and life in general. It will also have a beneficial effect on your physiology and emotional state.

Biorhythms are the cyclical nature of processes in a living organism. The main external rhythms that influence human biocycles are natural (Sun, Moon...) and social (work week...). The leading internal chronometers of the human body are located: in the head (epiphysis, hypothalamus) and in the heart. Biorhythms can change, synchronizing with external rhythms - light cycles (change of day and night, light).

From the day of birth, a person is in three biological rhythms - physical, emotional and intellectual:

23 day rhythm— this is a physical rhythm, it determines a person’s health, strength and endurance;
28 day rhythm— this is an emotional rhythm, it affects the state of the nervous system, mood, love, optimism, etc.;
33 day rhythm is an intellectual rhythm. It determines the creative abilities of an individual. Favorable days of the 33-day rhythmic cycle are characterized by creative activity, and a person is accompanied by luck and success. On unfavorable days there is a creative decline.

Each of the three long-term rhythmic cycles begins with the birth of a person. Its further development can be depicted as a sinusoid (graph). The higher the curve rises, the higher the ability corresponding to this mark. The lower it falls, the lower the corresponding energy. Periodic days are considered critical when the curve is at the intersection of the scale. This is an unfavorable time.

Thus, biorhythm calculation not at all complicated. Starting from the exact date of your birth, count how many days you have lived. To do this, multiply 365 days a year by the number of years lived, and multiply the number of leap years by 366 days. Leap years were: 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980,1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 , 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 , 2016.

Calculate the total number of days lived. Now you know how many days you have already lived in this world. Divide this number by the number of days of the biorhythm you want to calculate: 23, 28, 33. The remainder will show you where you are currently on the curve. For example, if the remainder is 12, then it is day 12 of the biorhythm that you are counting. This is the first half of the cycle and is usually favorable. If the cycle is at zero on the chart, then it is a bad day. In addition, the days when the biorhythm lines cross the horizontal line in the center of the graph are the so-called critical days, when your abilities are completely unpredictable. On such days a person feels a loss of strength and lack of energy.

Each biorhythm has 3 periods: a period of high energy, a period of low energy and critical days of the biorhythm. Let's take a closer look:

23 day rhythm

High energy (0-11 days): good physical well-being, resistance to stress, illness and high vitality, strong sex drive, danger of overestimating one’s strength.
Low energy (days 12-23): increased fatigue, during this time it is recommended to rest more and conserve energy.
Critical days (11, 12, 23 days): reduced resistance to disease, tendency to erroneous actions.

28 day rhythm

High energy (days 0-14): intense emotional and spiritual life, favorable time for friendship and love, increased creativity and interest in new things, tendency to be highly emotional.
Low energy (days 14-28): lack of self-confidence, passivity, underestimation of one’s capabilities.
Critical days (14, 28 days): tendency to mental conflicts, decreased resistance to disease.

33 day rhythm

High energy (0-16 days): ability to think clearly and logically, ability to concentrate, good memory, creative activity.
Low energy (days 17-33): decreased interest in new ideas, slow reactions, creative decline.
Critical days (16, 17, 33 days): inability to concentrate, inattention and distraction, tendency to erroneous actions (high probability of accidents).

HUMAN BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS

Circadian rhythms according to the “biological clock”

EARLY MORNING

4-5 hours (in real, geographical time, as for acupuncture points) - the body is preparing to awaken.

By 5 a.m., melatonin production begins to decrease and body temperature rises.

Shortly before waking up, around 5:00 a.m. geographical, real local time, the body begins preparing for the upcoming wakefulness: the production of “activity hormones” - cortisol, adrenaline - increases. The content of hemoglobin and sugar in the blood increases, the pulse quickens, blood pressure (BP) rises, and breathing deepens. Body temperature begins to rise, the frequency of REM sleep phases increases, and the tone of the sympathetic nervous system increases. All these phenomena are enhanced by light, heat and noise.

By 7-8 o'clock, night owls have a peak release of cortisol (the main hormone of the adrenal glands) into the blood. For early risers - earlier, at 4-5 hours, for other chronotypes - about 5-6 hours.

From 7 to 9 am - get up, exercise, breakfast.

9 hours - high performance, fast counting, short-term memory works well.

In the morning - assimilation of new information, with a fresh mind.

Two to three hours after waking up, take care of your heart.

9-10 am - time to make plans, “use your brain.” "The morning is wiser than the evening"

9-11 hours - immunity increases.

Medicines that enhance the body's resistance to disease are effective.

Until 11 o'clock - the body is in excellent shape.

12 - reduce physical activity.

Brain activity decreases. Blood rushes to the digestive organs. Gradually, blood pressure, pulse and muscle tone begin to decrease, respectively, but body temperature continues to rise.

13 ± 1 hour - lunch break

13-15 - midday and afternoon rest (lunch, quiet hour, siesta)

After 14 hours - pain sensitivity is minimal, the effect of painkillers is most effective and lasting.

15 - long-term memory works. Time - to remember and remember well what is needed.

After 16 - increase in performance.

15-18 hours is the time to go in for sports. Thirst, at this time, should be quenched abundantly and often with clean boiled water, hot or warm - in winter (to prevent colds, gastrointestinal diseases and kidney diseases). In summer you can have cold mineral water.

16-19 - high level of intellectual activity. Housework

19 ± 1 hour - dinner.

Carbohydrate foods (natural - honey, etc.) promote the production of a special hormone - serotonin, which promotes a good night's sleep. The brain is active.

After 19 hours - good reaction

After 20 hours, the mental state stabilizes, memory improves. After 21 hours, the number of white blood cells almost doubles (immunity increases), body temperature drops, and cell renewal continues.

From 20 to 21 - light physical exercise and walking in the fresh air are good for health.

After 21 hours - the body prepares for a night's rest, body temperature drops.

22 hours is time for sleep. The immune system is strengthened to protect the body during the night's rest.

In the first half of the night, when slow-wave sleep predominates, the maximum amount of somatotropic hormone is released, stimulating the processes of cell reproduction and growth. No wonder they say that in our sleep we grow. Regeneration and cleansing of body tissues occurs.

2 hours - those who do not sleep at this time may experience depression.

3-4 hours is the deepest sleep. Body temperature and cortisol levels are minimal, melatonin levels in the blood are maximum.

Biological rhythms in life

Flying by plane from east to west is easier than flying from west to east. To adapt, the body (young, healthy) needs approximately a day for each time zone, but not less than three to four days. The speed at which the biorhythms of the human body are captured by an external rhythm strongly depends on the difference in their phases. On average, it takes one and a half weeks for sufficient adaptation and acclimatization in new conditions. This does not depend on the position of the hands on the watch dial, but on the sun above your head. Local, local features of geomagnetic and other fields and radiations that differ from the usual ones also have a noticeable effect.

Human daily chronotype: morning (larks), afternoon (pigeons) and evening (owls). The nighttime activity of night owls affects their health - myocardial infarctions occur more often in them than in early risers, and their cardiovascular system burns out faster.

To increase productivity and labor efficiency, it is recommended to take into account the chronotype, individually for each employee, when drawing up a schedule, work schedule for personnel at enterprises and, especially, dispatchers and operators.

Compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards and ergonomic requirements, work and rest schedules is a necessary condition for the operation of a modern enterprise.

Performance decreases sharply from thirty degrees Celsius, halving at an ambient temperature of +33-34°C.

Shift work schedule (for example, from night shift to day shift) - no more than once a month, taking into account the time required for adaptation (1-2 weeks).

Industrial accidents and traffic accidents on the road more often occur at certain hours:
- from 22 o'clock to 4 o'clock - a person has the lowest response rate.
- between 13 and 15 hours - first, the general pre-lunch rush, after - “afternoon depression”.

To prevent “afternoon depression”, resting after lunch for 10-20 minutes or taking a “midday nap” can be effective, but not more than 1.5 hours, otherwise there will be the opposite effect.

Human performance is higher from 10 to 12 and from 17 to 19 hours.

Sport

“Specially conducted research and the practice of sports training show that the most favorable period for intensive training is from 9 to 18 hours and that it is undesirable to carry out large volume and intensity loads early in the morning and late in the evening” (N.A. Agadzhanyan et al., 1989 ).

Human biorhythms: Sleep

Try to always go to bed and get up at the same time. Otherwise - desynchronosis. The first 4-5 hours of normal, natural sleep (deep, without interruptions) are mandatory; this is a vital daily minimum for the human body.

For insomnia and to quickly fall asleep (normal - within 5-15 minutes):
1) lie down comfortably, close your eyes, don’t think about anything (reduce the bioelectrical activity of the brain);
2) focus your attention on the diaphragm (its movement during breathing) and on the inner ankles (ankles) of the legs.

In a sound sleeper, the main source of sensory information about the environment is the ears (“light sleeper”), therefore, in order not to wake up from noise, you need to ensure silence (including using anti-noise soft “earplugs” made of hypoallergenic polymer, having good SNR (noise reduction), at a level of 30 dB or more), taking into account the increased sensitivity of hearing at night - with eyes closed and during sleep (10-14 decibels better compared to daytime). Loud, sharp, frightening sounds can wake up a sleeping person for a long time and cause insomnia.

It is difficult to fall asleep on an empty stomach, therefore, dinner is around 18-20 hours or 2-3 hours before bedtime. Don't overeat at night. The usual duration of restful sleep is 7-9 hours. Not only its duration is important, but also its quality (continuity and depth of the first three mandatory cycles, 1.5 x 3 = 4.5 hours)

Poor, restless sleep, nightmares, with a recurring obsessive plot - can be a consequence of cardiovascular diseases (bradycardia - rare pulse, arrhythmias), symptoms of snoring and respiratory arrest disease (sleep apnea), lack of oxygen in the room. The aeroionic composition of the air in apartments, without ventilation or the use of an aeroionizer, also requires improvement.

Before waking up, a dream movie is seen (its reproduction is a release of the ballast of nervous tension, unrealized ideas, unpleasant visual images that have accumulated over the past days, after processing and organizing the information received in the short-term and long-term memory of the brain, adaptation to difficult life situations). The more intense the eye movements during “rapid eye movement” sleep (REM phase), the better the dream reproduction. At the moment of falling asleep, a series of slides or pictures appears in the mind.

Laboratory studies have shown the necessity of the REM sleep phase for the survival of the body. A mouse deprived of this dream phase for 40 days died. In people, when blocking REM sleep with alcohol, there is a predisposition to hallucinations.

Dreams in the “rapid eye movement” phase (after slow-wave sleep and before waking up, to wake up or to “turn to the other side”) appear according to individual biorhythm - every 90-100 minutes. (in the morning - cycles are reduced to the first tens of minutes, see the graph in the picture), in accordance with the intraday cyclicity of changes (increases) in general body temperature and the redistribution of blood in the body (from its periphery, from the extremities to the center of the body, inward), the growth of blood pressure, increased respiratory rate and heart rate.

Short-term memory is involved in remembering dreams, therefore, up to 90% of the content of a dream is forgotten within the next half hour, after waking up, unless, in the process of remembering, emotional experience, ordering and comprehension, its plot is recorded in the long-term memory of the brain.

Human biorhythms: remembering sleep

According to reviews from enthusiastic researchers and practitioners at high levels, lucid dreaming (LU) is cooler than many modern computer games.

Many people see dreams, but not everyone tries to remember and remember them at the moment of waking up (especially during short awakenings between the first cycles, before returning back to slow-wave sleep).

If there is very little time for rest, you can sleep from 10-11 pm to 3-4 am (“mandatory program” - the first three night cycles in a row, without waking up, that is, the duration of sleep will be 4-5 hours). In this case, the following are restored, sequentially: the brain, body and physical strength, the emotional sphere.

The duration of night sleep required for the human body also depends on the season. In winter - it should be at least half an hour longer than in the summer.

A natural sleeping pill is fatigue and/or certain moments in the 90-minute cycles of the body's individual biorhythm when body temperature drops.

A sufficient night's sleep promotes weight loss (if you are overweight, it normalizes it). In this case, dinner no later than four hours before bedtime. Eating at night is excluded, you can only drink clean water, in small quantities (to flush the esophagus, prevent dehydration and to fall asleep as quickly as possible). The effect will be more noticeable - with high physical activity, during daylight hours.

Frequent lack of sleep causes the body to wear out and age faster. During the slow-wave stage of normal, deep sleep, a control scan by the brain of the digestive, respiratory system and heart (as having the most clear rhythm) occurs, and during the fast-wave stage - the cardiovascular and lymphatic, reproductive and nervous systems, as well as the liver, kidneys, muscles and tendons (i.e. organs that do not have an obvious short-period rhythm). After collecting and processing this information, a sequentially planned and coordinated restoration of the insides (visceral sphere - stomach, intestines, etc.) of the body is carried out. This process mainly involves the most powerful “computational processors”, for example, in the visual and motor areas of the cerebral cortex. In the case when you really want to sleep, but systematically there is no such opportunity, physical changes may occur in the internal organs and the risk of developing pathologies (stomach ulcers, etc.) significantly increases.

A sleep-deprived and very tired person who feels drowsy while driving a car is just as risky to his health and dangerous to others as a driver who is intoxicated.

Scientists, and not only British ones, have found that it is possible to slow down the aging of the brain if you stabilize your biorhythms - by simply following a sleep schedule, this natural circadian (that is, cyclically repeating every day, every 24 hours) rhythm.

General ideas about biorhythms. The rhythm of processes can be traced in everything and everywhere: man and all the surrounding nature, the Earth, and Space live according to the law of rhythm.

Once upon a time, nature “set up” the biological clock of the living so that it would run in accordance with its inherent cyclical nature. The change of day and night, the alternation of seasons, the rotation of the Moon around the Earth and the Earth around the Sun are the initial conditions for the development of the organism. Biological rhythm has become a general principle of living things, enshrined in heredity, an integral feature of life, its temporary basis, its regulator.

Biorhythms- periodic changes in the intensity and nature of biological processes that are self-sustaining and self-reproducing under any conditions.

Biorhythms are characterized by:

• period— the duration of one oscillation cycle per unit time;
• rhythm frequency - frequency of periodic processes per unit time;
• phase - part of the cycle, measured in fractions of the period (initial, final, etc.);
• amplitude - range of fluctuations between maximum and minimum.

The following cycles are distinguished by duration:

• high-frequency - lasting up to 30 minutes;
• mid-frequency - from 0.5 to 24 hours, 20-28 hours and 29 hours - 6 days;
• low-frequency - with a period of 7 days, 20 days, 30 days, about one year.

Table. Classification of human biorhythms

The human body is characterized by a whole spectrum of rhythmically manifested processes and functions, which are united into a single time-coordinated oscillatory system, which has the following features: the presence of a connection between the rhythms of different processes; the presence of synchronicity, or multiplicity, in the flow of certain rhythms; the presence of hierarchy (subordination of some rhythms to others).

In Fig. Figure 1 shows a diagram of biorhythms, which reflects part of the spectrum of human rhythms. (In fact, everything in the human body is rhythmic: the work of internal organs, tissues, cells, electrical activity of the brain, metabolism.)

Among many others, four main biological rhythms have been identified and studied in humans:

One and a half hour rhythm (from 90 to 100 minutes) of alternation of neuronal activity of the brain both during wakefulness and during sleep, which causes one and a half hour fluctuations in mental performance and one and a half hour cycles of bioelectrical activity of the brain during sleep. Every hour and a half, a person experiences alternately low and increased excitability, peace, and anxiety;

Monthly rhythm. Certain changes in a woman’s body are subject to monthly cyclicity. A monthly rhythm in the performance and mood of men has recently been established;

Annual rhythm. Cyclic changes in the body are noted annually during the changing seasons. It has been established that the content of hemoglobin and cholesterol in the blood varies at different times of the year; muscle excitability is higher in spring and summer and weaker in autumn and winter; maximum light sensitivity of the eye is also observed in spring and early summer, and decreases by autumn and winter.

It has been suggested that there are 2-, 3- and 11-year - 22-year rhythms; their connection with meteorological and heliogeographical phenomena that have approximately the same cyclicity is considered the most likely.

In addition to the rhythms given above, human life is subject to social rhythms. People get used to them all the time. One of them is weekly. By dividing each month into weeks for many centuries - six working days, one day for rest, man himself accustomed himself to it. This regime, which does not exist in nature and appeared as a result of social reasons, has become an integral measure of human life and society. In the weekly cycle, the first thing that changes is performance. Moreover, the same pattern can be traced among population groups that differ in age and nature of work: among workers and engineers at industrial enterprises, among schoolchildren and students. Monday begins with a relatively low performance, from Tuesday to Thursday - the very crest of the week - it gains its maximum rise, and from Friday it falls again.

Rice. 1. Rhythms of human activity

Biological significance of biorhythms. Biorhythms perform at least four main functions in the human body.

The first function is to optimize the body’s vital functions. Cyclicity is the basic rule of behavior of biological systems, a necessary condition for their functioning. This is due to the fact that biological processes cannot proceed intensively for a long time; they represent an alternation of maximum and minimum, because bringing a function to a maximum only in certain phases of each period of the cycle is more economical than stable, continuous maintenance of such a maximum. In biological systems, any activity must be followed by a decrease in activity for rest and recovery.

Therefore, the principle of a rhythmic change in activity, during which energy and plastic resources are consumed, and its inhibition, intended to restore these expenses, was initially laid down during the emergence (birth) of any biological system, including humans.

The second function is a reflection of the time factor. Biorhythms are a biological form of transforming the scale of objective, astronomical time into subjective, biological time. Its purpose is to correlate the cycles of life processes with the cycles of objective time. The main characteristics of biological time as a special form of moving matter are its independence from our consciousness and its relationship with physical time. Thanks to this, the temporary organization of biological processes in the body and their coordination with periods of fluctuations in the external environment are carried out, which ensures the adaptation of the body to the environment and reflects the unity of living and inanimate nature.

The third function is regulatory. Rhythm is a working mechanism for creating functional systems in the central nervous system (CNS) and the basic principle of regulating functions. According to modern concepts, the creation of working mechanisms in the central nervous system is ensured by synchronization of the rhythmic high-frequency activity of its constituent nerve cells. In this way, individual nerve cells are united into working ensembles, and ensembles into a common synchronous functional system. The rhythm of brain discharges is of fundamental importance for the predominance of the main reaction at a given moment among others. This creates a dominant, the currently dominant functional system of the central nervous system. It unites various centers in a single rhythm and determines their current sequential activity by imposing “its own” rhythm. This is how neural programs that determine behavior are created in the structures of the brain.

The fourth function is integration (unification). Biorhythm is a working mechanism for uniting all levels of organization of the body into a single supersystem. Integration is implemented according to the principle of hierarchy: high-frequency rhythms of a low level of organization are subordinate to mid- and low-frequency levels of a higher level of organization. In other words, high-frequency biorhythms of cells, tissues, organs and systems of the body obey the basic mid-frequency circadian rhythm. This association is carried out according to the principle of multiplicity.

General characteristics of biorhythms

Human life is inextricably linked with the time factor. One of the effective forms of adaptation of the body to the external environment is the rhythm of physiological functions.

Biorhythm- a self-oscillatory process in a biological system, characterized by a sequential alternation of phases of tension and relaxation, when one or another parameter successively reaches a maximum or minimum value. The law according to which this process occurs can be described by various functions, and in the simplest version - by a sinusoidal curve.

To date, about 400 biorhythms have been described in humans and animals. Naturally, the need arose to classify them. Several principles for classifying biorhythms have been proposed. Most often they are classified based on the frequency of oscillations, or periods. The following are distinguished: basic rhythms:

• High frequency, or microrhythms (from fractions of a second to 30 minutes). Examples include oscillations at the molecular level (synthesis and breakdown of ATP, etc.), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, and the frequency of intestinal motility.
• Medium frequency (from 30 min to 28 h). This group includes ultradian (up to 20 hours) and circadian or circadian (circadian - 20-28 hours) rhythms. An example is the alternation of sleep and wakefulness. The circadian rhythm is the basic rhythm of human physiological functions.
• Mesorhythms (lasting from 28 hours to 6-7 days). This includes circaseptal rhythms (about 7 days). They are associated with a person’s performance; they are largely determined by the social factor - a working week with rest on the 6-7th day.
• Macrorhythms (from 20 days to 1 year). These include circanimal (circan) or periannual rhythms. This group includes seasonal and peri-monthly rhythms (lunar rhythm, ovarian-menstrual cycle in women, etc.).
• Megarhythms (lasting tens or many tens of years). The most famous of them is the 11-year rhythm of solar activity, which is associated with some processes on Earth - infectious diseases of humans and animals (epidemics and epizootics).

The characteristics of each biorhythm can be described by methods of mathematical analysis and depicted graphically. In the latter case we are talking about a biorhythmogram, or chronogram.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, the biorhythmogram has a sinusoidal character. It distinguishes between the time period, the phases of tension and relaxation, the amplitude of tension, the amplitude of relaxation, and the acrophase of a given biorhythm.

The time period is the most important characteristic of the biorhythm. This is a period of time after which a repetition of a function or state of the body occurs.

Rice. 2. Scheme of biorhythmogram using the example of the circadian rhythm of heart rate: 1 - time period (days); 2 — voltage phase (day); 3 - relaxation phase (night); 4 - voltage amplitude; 5 — amplitude of relaxation; 6 - acrophase

Phases of tension and relaxation characterize the increase and decrease in function during the day.

Amplitude- the difference between the maximum and minimum expression of the function during the day (tension amplitude) and night time (relaxation amplitude). Total amplitude is the difference between the maximum and minimum expression of a function within the entire daily cycle.

Acrophase- the time at which the highest point (maximum level) of a given biorhythm occurs.

In some cases, the curve takes on a flattened or plateau-like appearance. This occurs at low voltage amplitudes. Other varieties are inverted and two-vertex biorhythmograms. Inverted curves are characterized by a decrease in the initial level during the daytime, i.e. a change in function in the direction opposite to normal. This is an unfavorable sign.

Double-peak curves are characterized by two peaks of activity during the day. The appearance of the second peak is currently considered as a manifestation of adaptation to living conditions. For example, the first peak of human performance (11 - 13 hours) is a natural manifestation of the biorhythm associated with daily activity. The second increase in performance, observed in the evening hours, is due to the need to perform household and other duties.

Origin and regulation of biorhythms

The origin of biorhythms is determined by two factors - endogenous (internal, congenital) and exogenous (external, acquired).

Constant cyclical fluctuations in various systems of the body developed in the process of long evolution, and now they are innate. These include many functions: the rhythmic work of the heart, respiratory system, brain, etc. These rhythms are called physiological. Several hypotheses have been put forward regarding the endogenous nature of biorhythms. The largest number of supporters has the multioscillator theory, according to which, within a multicellular organism (human), a main (central) pacemaker (biological clock) can function, imposing its rhythm on all other systems that are not capable of generating their own oscillatory processes. Along with the central pacemaker, the existence of secondary oscillators, hierarchically subordinate to the leader, is possible.

Biorhythms that depend on cyclical changes in the environment are acquired and are called environmental. These rhythms are greatly influenced by cosmic factors: the rotation of the Earth around its axis (solar day), the energetic influence of the Moon and cyclical changes in the activity of the Sun.

Biorhythms in the body consist of endogenous - physiological and exogenous - ecological rhythms. The average frequency of rhythms is determined by a combination of endogenous and exogenous factors.

It is believed that the central pacemaker is the pineal gland (an endocrine gland located in the diencephalon). However, in humans, this gland functions only until the age of 15-16 years. According to many scientists, the role of the central synchronizer (biological clock) in humans is assumed by a region of the brain called the hypothalamus.

Control of the change in state of wakefulness and sleep depends largely on the light factor and is ensured by connections between the cerebral cortex and the thalamus (the center in which impulses from all sensory organs are collected), as well as the activating ascending influences of the reticular formation (mesh structures of the brain that perform an activating function) . Direct connections between the retina and the hypothalamus play an important role.

Direct and indirect connections between the cerebral cortex and hypothalamic structures ensure the emergence of a system of hormonal control of peripheral regulation, operating at all levels - from subcellular to organismal.

Thus, the basis of the temporal organization of living matter is endogenous nature of biorhythms, corrected by exogenous factors. The stability of the endogenous component of the biological clock is created by the interaction of the nervous and humoral (Latin humor - fluid; here - blood, lymph, tissue fluid) systems. Weakness of one of these links can lead to (jet lag) and subsequent dysfunction.

Researchers have proven that in order to constantly improve and train adaptive mechanisms, the body must periodically experience stress, a certain conflict with the physical and social environment around it. If we consider that periodicity is inherent in the very nature of living systems, it becomes clear that it is precisely this dynamic interaction of the organism with the environment that ensures its stability and sustainable viability. The basis of any active activity is the processes of intensive expenditure of the body's vital resources, and at the same time, these reactions are a powerful stimulus for even more intense recovery processes. It can be argued that dynamic synchronization - the interaction of endogenous and exogenous rhythms - gives the body vitality and stability.

External rhythms

External rhythms are of a geographical nature and are associated with the rotation of the Earth relative to the Sun and the Moon relative to the Earth (Fig. 2).

Fig 2.

Many environmental factors on our planet, primarily light conditions, temperature, air pressure and humidity, atmospheric electromagnetic field, sea tides, etc., naturally change under the influence of this rotation. Living organisms are also affected by cosmic rhythms such as periodic changes in solar activity. The Sun is characterized by an 11-year and a number of other cycles. Changes in solar radiation have a significant impact on the climate of our planet. In addition to the cyclical influence of abiotic factors, external rhythms for any organism are also natural changes in activity, as well as the behavior of other living beings.

Internal, physiological, rhythms

Internal, physiological rhythms arose historically. Not a single physiological process in the body occurs continuously. Rhythmicity has been discovered in the processes of DNA and RNA synthesis in cells, in protein synthesis, in the work of enzymes, and in the activity of mitochondria. Cell division, muscle contraction, work of the endocrine glands, heartbeat, breathing, excitability of the nervous system, i.e. the work of all cells, organs and tissues of the body obeys a certain rhythm. Each system has its own period. The actions of environmental factors can change this period only within narrow limits, and for some processes it is almost impossible. This rhythm is called endogenous.

The internal rhythms of the body are subordinated, integrated into an integral system and ultimately appear in the form of the general periodicity of the body’s behavior. The body, as it were, counts down time, rhythmically carrying out its physiological functions. For both external and internal rhythms, the onset of the next phase primarily depends on time. Hence, time acts as one of the most important environmental factors to which living organisms must respond, adapting to external cyclical changes in nature.

Changes in the life activity of organisms often coincide in period with external, geographical cycles. Among them are adaptive biological rhythms - daily, tidal, equal to the lunar month, annual. Thanks to them, the most important biological functions of the body (nutrition, growth, reproduction, etc.) coincide with the most favorable times of day and year.

Daily regime. Twice a day, at dawn and at sunset, the activity of animals and plants on our planet changes so much that it often leads to an almost complete, figuratively speaking, change of “actors”. This is the so-called daily rhythm, caused by periodic changes in illumination due to the rotation of the Earth around its axis. In green plants, photosynthesis occurs only during daylight hours. In plants, the opening and closing of flowers, the raising and lowering of leaves, the maximum intensity of respiration, the growth rate of the coleoptile, etc. are often timed to a certain time of day (Fig. 3).

Rice. 3.

Note in The circles show the approximate time of opening and closing of flowers on different plants

Some animal species are active only in sunlight, while others, on the contrary, avoid it. The differences between diurnal and nocturnal lifestyles are a complex phenomenon, and it is associated with a variety of physiological and behavioral adaptations that are developed in the process of evolution. Mammals are usually more active at night, but there are exceptions, for example humans: human vision, like apes, is adapted to daylight. Over 100 physiological functions affected by daily periodicity have been observed in humans: sleep and wakefulness, changes in body temperature, heart rate, depth and frequency of breathing, volume and chemical composition of urine, sweating, muscle and mental performance, etc. Thus, most animals are divided into two groups of species - daytime And night, practically never meeting each other (Fig. 4).

Rice. 4.

Diurnal animals (most birds, insects and lizards) go to sleep at sunset, and the world is filled with nocturnal animals (hedgehogs, bats, owls, most cats, grass frogs, cockroaches, etc.). There are species of animals with approximately the same activity both during the day and at night, with alternating short periods of rest and wakefulness. This rhythm is called polyphasic(a number of predators, many shrews, etc.).

The daily rhythm is clearly visible in the lives of the inhabitants of large water systems - oceans, seas, large lakes. Zooplankton perform vertical migrations daily, rising to the surface at night and descending during the day (Fig. 5).

Rice. 5.

Following the zooplankton, larger animals feeding on it move up and down, and behind them even larger predators. It is believed that vertical movements of planktonic organisms occur under the influence of many factors: light, temperature, water salinity, gravity, and finally, simply hunger. However, according to most scientists, illumination is still primary, since its change can cause a change in the reaction of animals to gravity.

In many animals, daily periodicity is not accompanied by significant deviations in physiological functions, but is manifested mainly by changes in motor activity, for example, in rodents. Physiological changes during the day can be most clearly observed in bats. During the daytime rest period in summer, many bats behave like poikilothermic animals. Their body temperature at this time practically coincides with the temperature of the environment. Pulse, breathing, and the excitability of the sensory organs are sharply reduced. To take off, a disturbed bat warms up for a long time due to chemical heat production. In the evening and at night, these are typical homeothermic mammals with high body temperature, active and precise movements, and quick reactions to prey and enemies.

Periods of activity in some species of living organisms are confined to a strictly defined time of day, while in others they can shift depending on the situation. For example, the activity of darkling beetles or desert woodlice shifts to different times of day depending on the temperature and humidity at the soil surface. They emerge from their burrows early in the morning and in the evening (two-phase cycle), or only at night (single-phase cycle), or throughout the day. Another example. The opening of saffron flowers depends on temperature, and that of dandelion flowers depends on the light: on a cloudy day the baskets do not open. Endogenous circadian rhythms can be distinguished from exogenous ones experimentally. With complete constancy of external conditions (temperature, illumination, humidity, etc.), many species continue to maintain cycles for a long time, close to the daily period. Thus, in Drosophila such an endogenous rhythm is observed for tens of generations. Consequently, living organisms adapted to perceive fluctuations in the external environment and adjusted their physiological processes accordingly. This happened mainly under the influence of three factors - the rotation of the Earth in relation to the Sun, Moon and stars. These factors, superimposed on each other, were perceived by living organisms as a rhythm, close, but not exactly corresponding to a 24-hour period. This was one of the reasons for some deviation of endogenous biological rhythms from the exact daily period. These endogenous rhythms are called circadian(from Latin circa - about and dies - day, day), i.e. approaching the circadian rhythm.

In different species and even in different individuals of the same species, circadian rhythms, as a rule, differ in duration, but under the influence of the correct alternation of light and darkness they can become equal to 24 hours. Thus, if the flying squirrel (Pebromys volans) is kept in absolute darkness continuously, then all They wake up and lead an active lifestyle at first simultaneously, but soon at different times, and at the same time each individual maintains its own rhythm. When the correct alternation of day and night is restored, the periods of sleep and wakefulness of flying squirrels again become synchronous. Hence the conclusion is that external stimuli (the change of day and night) regulate innate circadian rhythms, bringing them closer to a 24-hour period.

The behavioral stereotype determined by the circadian rhythm facilitates the existence of organisms during daily changes in the environment. At the same time, when plants and animals spread and find themselves in geographical conditions with a different rhythm of day and night, a strong stereotype can be unfavorable. The settlement capabilities of certain types of living organisms are often limited by the deep fixation of their circadian rhythms.

In addition to the Earth and the Sun, there is another celestial body, the movement of which significantly affects the living organisms of our planet - this is the Moon. A variety of peoples have signs that speak of the influence of the Moon on the productivity of agricultural crops, natural meadows and pastures, and the behavior of humans and animals. Periodicity equal to the lunar month as an endogenous rhythm has been identified in both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. When associated with certain phases of the Moon, periodicity is manifested in the swarming of a number of chironomid mosquitoes and mayflies, the reproduction of Japanese crinoids and palolo polychaete worms (Eunice viridis). Thus, in the unusual process of reproduction of marine polychaete worms, palolo, which live in the coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean, the phases of the moon play the role of a clock. The reproductive cells of worms mature once a year at approximately the same time - at a certain hour of a certain day, when the Moon is in the last quarter. The back part of the worm's body, filled with germ cells, breaks off and floats to the surface. The eggs and sperm are released and fertilization occurs. The upper half of the body, remaining in the coral reef burrow, again grows the lower half with sex cells by the next year. Periodic changes in the intensity of moonlight throughout the month affect the reproduction of other animals. The start of the two-month pregnancy of Malaysia's giant wood rats usually occurs around the full moon. It is possible that bright moonlight stimulates conception in these nocturnal animals.

A periodicity equal to the lunar month has been identified in a number of animals in the reaction to light and weak magnetic fields, and in the speed of orientation. It has been suggested that the full moon marks periods of maximum emotional elation in people; The 28-day menstrual cycle of women may have been inherited from the ancestors of mammals, whose body temperature changed synchronously with the changing phases of the moon.

Tidal rhythms. The influence of the Moon primarily affects the life of aquatic organisms in the seas and oceans of our planet and is associated with tides, which owe their existence to the joint attraction of the Moon and the Sun. The movement of the Moon around the Earth leads to the fact that there is not only a daily rhythm of tides, but also a monthly one. Tides reach their maximum height approximately once every 14 days, when the Sun and Moon are in line with the Earth and have maximum impact on the ocean waters. The rhythm of the tides most strongly affects organisms living in coastal waters. The alternation of ebbs and flows for living organisms is more important here than the change of day and night, caused by the rotation of the Earth and the inclined position of the earth's axis. The life of organisms living primarily in the coastal zone is subject to this complex rhythm of ebb and flow. Thus, the physiology of the grunin fish, which lives off the coast of California, is such that at the highest night tides they are thrown ashore. The females, with their tails buried in the sand, lay eggs, then the males fertilize them, after which the fish return to the sea. As the water recedes, fertilized eggs go through all stages of development. The hatching of the fry occurs after half a month and is timed to coincide with the next high tide.

Seasonal frequency is one of the most common phenomena in living nature. The continuous change of seasons, caused by the rotation of the Earth around the Sun, always delights and amazes people. In spring, all living things awaken from deep sleep, as the snow melts and the sun shines brighter. Buds burst and young leaves bloom, young animals crawl out of holes, insects and birds returning from the south scurry in the air. The change of seasons occurs most noticeably in temperate climate zones and northern latitudes, where the contrast in meteorological conditions of different seasons of the year is very significant. Periodicity in the life of animals and plants is the result of their adaptation to annual changes in meteorological conditions. It manifests itself in the development of a certain annual rhythm in their life activity, consistent with the meteorological rhythm. The need for low temperatures in the autumn and warmth during the growing season means that for plants in temperate latitudes, not only the general level of heat is important, but also its certain distribution over time. So, if plants are given the same amount of heat, but distributed differently: one has a warm summer and a cold winter, and the other has a corresponding constant average temperature, then normal development will only occur in the first case, although the total amount of heat in both options is the same (Fig. 6 ).

Rice. 6.

A - normal seasonal temperature change: warm summer and cold autumn; B - constant average temperature. Phenophases: 1 - germination, budding; 3 - flowering and fruiting; 4 - dying off. Bold lines indicate periods of cold or average temperature. Forcing at 18°C ​​(according to T.K. Goryshina, 1979)

The need for plants in temperate latitudes to alternate between cold and warm periods throughout the year is called seasonal thermoperiodism.

Often the decisive factor in seasonal frequency is the increase in day length. The length of the day varies throughout the year: the sun shines longest on the summer solstice in June, and the shortest on the winter solstice in December.

Many living organisms have special physiological mechanisms that respond to the length of the day and change their behavior accordingly. For example, while the day is 8 hours long, the pupa of the Saturnia butterfly sleeps peacefully, since it is still winter, but as soon as the day gets longer, special nerve cells in the pupa’s brain begin to secrete a special hormone that causes it to awaken.

Seasonal changes in the fur coat of some mammals are also determined by the relative lengths of day and night and have little or no effect on temperature. Thus, by gradually artificially reducing the daylight hours in the enclosure, scientists seemed to imitate autumn and ensured that weasels and stoats kept in captivity changed their brown summer attire to a white winter one ahead of time.

It is generally accepted that there are four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter). Ecologists studying temperate zone communities usually distinguish six seasons, differing in the set of species in the communities: winter, early spring, late spring, early summer, late summer and autumn. Birds do not adhere to the generally accepted division of the year into four seasons: the composition of the bird community, which includes both permanent inhabitants of a given area and birds spending winter or summer here, changes all the time, with birds reaching their maximum numbers in spring and autumn during migration. In the Arctic, in fact, there are two seasons: a nine-month winter and three summer months, when the sun does not set beyond the horizon, the soil thaws and life awakens in the tundra. As we move from the pole to the equator, the change of season is determined less and less by temperature, and more and more by humidity. In temperate deserts, summer is a period when life comes to a standstill and blooms in early spring and late autumn.

The change of season is associated not only with periods of abundance or lack of food, but also with the rhythm of reproduction. In domestic animals (cows, horses, sheep) and animals in the natural environment of the temperate zone, offspring usually appear in the spring and grow up in the most favorable period, when there is the most plant food. Therefore, the idea may arise that all animals reproduce in the spring.

However, the reproduction of many small mammals (mice, voles, lemmings) often does not have a strictly seasonal pattern. Depending on the quantity and abundance of food, reproduction can occur in spring, summer, and winter.

In nature, it is observed in addition to daily and seasonal rhythms. multi-year frequency biological phenomena. It is determined by changes in weather, its natural change under the influence of solar activity and is expressed by the alternation of productive and lean years, years of abundance or scarcity of populations (Fig. 7).

Rice. 7.

DI. Over 50 years of observations, Malikov noted five large waves of changes in livestock numbers, or as many as there were solar cycles (Fig. 8). The same connection is manifested in the cyclical changes in milk yield, the annual increase in meat, wool in sheep, as well as in other indicators of agricultural production.

Rice. 8.

The frequency of changes in the properties of the influenza virus is associated with solar activity.

According to the forecast, after a relatively calm period regarding influenza in the early 80s. XX century Since 2000, a sharp increase in the intensity of its spread is expected.

There are 5-6 and 11-year, as well as 80-90-year or secular cycles of solar activity. This allows us to some extent explain the coincidence of periods of mass reproduction of animals and plant growth with periods of solar activity.

The internal rhythm of the body is a periodic alternation of the body’s capabilities and preparedness for certain external influences, depending on the time of day, annual season, human age and other natural periods. Almost none of the scientists doubt the existence of such rhythms; the debate is only about their cause and consequences.

Knowing these rhythms allows you to make the best decisions, for example, when is the best time to vaccinate your children, take an exam, cook lunch, rest, when to fear a heart attack, drink wine or drive a car, etc. During any hour of the day or night, reactions to Specific stimuli of the human body are different, but they tend to repeat themselves in a 24-hour rhythm that determines life activity. Knowledge of the functioning of organs and systems will facilitate its “operation”.

There are several known domestic and foreign developments on the topic “our internal clock”. They differ in detail: each has its own accents and original finds worthy of attention. But the goal is the same: to understand this rhythm and act in accordance with it, and not against it.

3.00 is the so-called “shift hour”. At this time, the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system takes control of the body. As a result of the narrowing of the blood vessels of the skin, a “warm-up phase” begins, during which the body temperature increases, and the body gradually prepares for work.

4.00 - many people begin to feel short of breath. In some diseases, the lungs may be the weakest part of the body at this time. The smooth muscles of the bronchi contract, the airways are narrowed to the maximum, and it becomes difficult to inhale air. Healthy people do not feel anything.

5.00 - almost nothing reaches the kidneys. Kidney activity is minimal. Throughout the night, they sent less urine into the bladder and removed less harmful substances. In this case, the biological rhythm is favorable for us, since if the kidneys were equally active all the time, we would have to jump up in the middle of the night repeatedly.

6.00 is the start time of activity. The “internal clock” awakens all systems. The heart begins to work faster, blood pressure increases. More glucose and amino acids appear in the blood, which cells need to obtain energy and materials for the synthesis of substances that support life processes.

7.00 - less worries with morning calories. The digestive tract is in the highest tone, this is the most appropriate moment to empty the lower part of the colon. And the stomach is in better shape - it can easily cope with breakfast. Most of the carbohydrates received from food will be metabolized into energy, which will be used in the coming hours. Therefore, morning calories are less of a concern even if you are overweight. The concentration of the male sex hormone (testosterone) in the blood is 40% higher than at midnight. Therefore, many men feel the strongest sexual need without having time to satisfy it (a little stress!).

8.00 - the heart is in danger! During these hours, the heart is burdened not only by an increase in blood pressure and an acceleration of the rhythm of contractions. Another danger appears, especially for a diseased heart, the venous vessels of which are narrowed due to the atherosclerotic process. The clumping of platelets (blood platelets) reaches a daily maximum. This means that platelets have the greatest tendency to form blood clots (thrombi), which can completely block the already narrowed blood vessels of the heart muscle. The most severe consequence of this can be myocardial infarction.

9.00 - maximum cortisone, minimum lymphocytes. Cortisone, a hormone of the adrenal cortex, reaches its maximum level in the blood. One of the consequences of this is that the number of lymphocytes decreases to its lowest level within 24 hours. Since lymphocytes play a particularly important role in the immune system, the strength of the body's defense reactions is sharply reduced. Therefore, factors that cause infectious diseases can easily manifest their dangerous effects.

10.00 - the brain is fully active. This is the best time for intense mental activity. Short-term memory also functions best, storing information only for a few hours. The general mood reaches its maximum.

11.00 is the most favorable moment of the day. Most bodily functions are at the highest levels. The body is capable of completing any task.

12.00 - from now on it’s only “downhill”. The "midday high" is still ongoing, but the ability to perform at peak performance is beginning to decline. Of course, after reaching the peak of activity, rest is necessary.

13.00 - the rhythm forces us to rest. Drowsiness occurs every 4 hours during the day and this is a completely natural physiological cycle. It’s just that in people of different ages and with different activity settings, it has different intensity - from a slight yawn and the desire to take a nap to falling asleep “on the go.” This cycle is most pronounced around 13.00. Anyone who must work at this time is forced to apply more effort, and the results are significantly lower, since productivity decreases by an average of 20%.

14.00 - finally take a break for yourself. The Afternoon Low continues. The body and mind are in a kind of relaxation, unable to mobilize. Rest is simply necessary.

15.00 - a new surge of energy. The ability to exert tension begins to return. The “internal clock” rearranges the autonomic nervous system: from its sympathetic department, which provides high output, to the parasympathetic one, which controls the period of rest. The results are felt, however, with a great delay, only after a few hours.

16.00 - time for preventive vaccinations. At this time, vaccinations are most productive, as they cause the least immune reaction, differing in this from morning vaccinations. Do you think doctors don't know about this? No, it’s just more convenient for them to get vaccinated in the morning, otherwise their wards (students, schoolchildren) will run away without waiting for “such nasty” vaccinations, and neither the younger generation nor adults who are inattentive to their health want to know that they are vitally necessary.

17.00 - repeated peak. A person's capacity for effort reaches a second, albeit somewhat smaller, maximum. The heart pumps more blood again, the muscles are stronger. If you now have the opportunity, engage in physical exercise and get the greatest boost of energy. It's also time for a glass of wine. In the late afternoon hours, the body processes alcohol 5 times easier than in the early morning. But... let us remind you that drinking is still harmful!

18.00 - desire for peace and relaxation. Body temperature at this time is the highest - about 37.4 °C, i.e. 1 degree higher than at 3.00 am. But from this time on, body temperature will gradually decrease (of course, in a healthy person). At the same time, important functions of the body slow down, physical potency decreases, and the desire for rest and peace begins to prevail.

19.00 is not a good time for stress. The best hours for the body are already behind us. Even to stress, the body reacts clearly weaker. In a similar stressful situation, at noon the number of heart contractions increases by 35%, and now - only by 25%.

20.00 - peak driving abilities. At this time, drivers react very quickly and correctly. The reaction time is the shortest during the day and is 0.095 s. At 22.00 a person reacts much more slowly, and at 2.00 there is a “just nowhere” reflex; from 7.00 a tolerable time for the reflex returns.

21.00 - “stop” for the stomach and intestines. The digestive tract is already resting. The stomach is able to secrete very little digestive secretion; Around midnight, the discharge stops almost completely. Therefore, a large dinner “sits like a stone in the stomach” and can seriously disturb sleep (elderly people remember this, because the stomach puts pressure on the heart when you lie down!).

22.00 - children grow in their sleep! The child's pituitary gland releases a lot of growth hormones about an hour after he falls asleep. They act, in particular, on the growth cartilages of tubular bones, stimulating increased cell division in them. Parents, remember - children grow in their sleep!

23.00 - best to be in bed. Sleeping until midnight is the healthiest. It may be objected to us that this is the case for “larks”, and for “night owls” it is better to fall asleep later, since at this time they have the period of the most fruitful work. Everything is correct, however, studies of the 80-90s showed that the “bird” attitude is by no means an innate, but an acquired state (conscious violence against the natural biorhythm), and in the first half of the night the sleep is sound, deep, in the second - restless, accompanied by dreams .

It goes without saying that there is no absolute regulation of the life of the human body during the day. But the activity of the body leaves its mark not only on the individuality of each person, but also on the notorious “translations of time.”