Credit: Science Blog
Becoming an early-riser just got a little trickier.
It can be a very challenging task to get your body on a specific time table when it comes to sleep. Many people try to head to bed early each night so that they can be an early riser in the morning. But according to a recent study, only 1 in 300 people really thrive in that kind of lifestyle.
The advanced sleep phase is when the body’s clock works on a schedule hours earlier than most other people. There is a premature release of the sleep hormone melatonin with a shift in body temperature. There is no connection with people waking up earlier as they age or for people who suffer from depression. People who have the advanced sleep phase will wake up at 4 or 5 AM with no problems at all, ready to tackle the day.
As one would expect, these people are very productive during the day but struggle at night with getting work done or participating in social gatherings. Advanced sleepers will also be refreshed and energized to wake early on the weekends. They may benefit from an extra 15-20 minutes of sleep on the weekend, but they generally still get up well before others.
The study was conducted over a nine-year period at a sleep disorder clinic. Of the over 2,000 patients, 12 people met the screening criteria for the advanced sleep phase. Through the study, they also realized that people who are night owls are more likely to struggle with sleep deficits.
All patients were asked about their medical history and all the people who were considered to be advanced sleepers reported at least one relative that had a similar sleeping pattern. It is believed that this is genetic. So, believe it or not, if you don’t head to bed early and rise early, you are not in the minority!
