Medical Questions » Sleep Questions » Question No. 925
Question:All my life I have found that waking up in the morninq is the hardest thing I do each day. I can easily drop back to sleep at any time in the first half hour I am up in the morning. I am often late for work as a result. Can I be helped?
Answer:Some people seem to be morning people, while others are evening people. You are unable to function well on waking, while others can bounce out of bed and be fully alert and active within seconds. On the other hand, you may be able to outlast others in the evening. The Spanish and other southern Europeans seem to be able to function well at both ends of the day, but then they enjoy a siesta in the early afternoon. Why this phenomenon of preferring mornings or evenings for activity exists is not really understood, but it is certainly well recognised. The agent probably responsible is melatonin, which is produced by the pineal gland. This tiny gland lies at the front of the brain, just behind the point where your eyebrows would meet. It acts as the time-keeper of the body, and regulares all sorts of natural daily rhythms. When it goes out of rhythm with jet lag, the inappropriate production of melatonin by the pineal is responsible. It seems some people have their pineal glands set at different times to others, but whether this can be reset is another matter, although some people have commented that after a trip from Europe they can cope better at different times of day than they could previously. Maybe you can cure your problem with a long-distance holiday? It is certainly a more attractive option than any medication or procedure!
       
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