An Excerpt from Dr. Bierbrauer's Latest Newsletter

Rise and Shine!

We all know people who get up with the first rays of the sun. Some people wake up even earlier, bouncing out of bed before there is even a glimmer of Homer's famous "rosy- fingered dawn" in the eastern sky. In contrast, for many people leaving the confines of their comfortable bed is a daily exercise in frustration. They know they "should" get up, they know they should "be on time", but each day they find themselves pushing the Snooze Button "just once more". "Really, this is it," they declare to their spouses and children. "I'm getting up. Just five more minutes."

What is the difference, the distinction, between those who are able and willing to throw off the covers at an early hour and those who struggle mightily to respond to the summons of the buzzing or tootling clock-radio? The nature and organization of your biorhythms - your body's set of internal timepieces - provide a large part of the answer.

The field of chronobiology - the study of biologic time - investigates various physiologic biorhythms. In animals these rhythms are associated with sleeping,1 eating, metabolic and hormonal regulation,2,3 cellular regeneration, and mating. In plants biorhythms are associated with photosynthesis and movements of leaves and stems. Circadian rhythms describe 24-hour cycles. Diurnal and nocturnal rhythms are active during the day and night, respectively.

There is good news for those who would appreciate the benefits of getting a head-start on the day's activities but nevertheless consistently get out of bed 30 minutes late, an hour late, or even later. Circadian rhythms can be changed. It takes commitment and effort, but it can be done. Good health is required in order to successfully cause a shift in one's basic functioning. Will power is not enough, as anyone who has tried to force themselves to get up earlier on a day-to-day basis can attest. A healthy diet and regular, vigorous exercise are key to making any long-lasting change in our biorhythms. Add a strong desire to the mix and long-term positive results can ensue.

1Priano L, et al: Non-linear recurrence analysis of NREM human sleep microstructure discloses deterministic oscillation patterns related to sleep stage transitions and sleep maintenance. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Cos 1:4934-4937, 2010
2Kalsbeek A, et al: Hypothalamic control of energy metabolism via the autonomic nervous system. Ann NY Acad Sci 1212(1):114-129, 2010
3Eisenberg DP, et al: Seasonal effects on human striatal presynaptic dopamine synthesis. J Neurosci 30(44):14691-14694, 2010

Natural Resources
 
A person needs energy in order to successfully get up early. Cells, tissues, and organs all need to be doing their jobs. They all need to be communicating with each other effectively. Hormones and nutrients need to arrive on time and in the right quantities. Metabolic processes need to be in tune. New supplies of energy need to be manufactured and delivered and waste products need to be removed. All these intricate processes are under the direct control of your nervous system.

Chiropractic care helps your nervous system function at peak efficiency. By restoring more normal mobility to your spinal column, chiropractic care directly optimizes activities within your nervous system. As a result, cells, tissues, and organs function more effectively and your body now has the energy it needs to wake up early - healthy, refreshed, and ready to go!

Dr. Bierbrauer is the owner of Bierbrauer Chiropractic, 221 10th Avenue South, on the ground floor of the Bridgewater Lofts.  He has been treating new born infants, children and adolescents, adults and elderly, entire families and both amateur and professional athletes since graduating magna cum laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1995.