Light regulates almost all mechanisms inside the body. Therefore, sleep, mood, and even metabolic health will vary with it. For those who consider light, this is particularly crucial during mornings, when it becomes a natural synchronizer of their circadian rhythms and their health. Let's dig in as to why morning light is important for healthy life:.

Our body clock, or circadian rhythm, consists of a complex system of biological processes that function in approximate 24-hour cycles. The internal timekeeper within us is controlled by some environmental cues, but the main one is light. Our central body clock is contained in the hypothalamus section of the brain and interfaces with clocks in individual cells throughout the body. They affect different functions such as sleep-wake cycles, digestion, and hormone discharge.

This central clock is reset daily by morning light exposure. A light-sensing cell found in the retina sends signals to the brain to mark a new day. This has the effect of synchronizing bodily functions with external environmental change, optimizing health and productivity.

Benefits of Morning Light for Sleep and Mental Health

One of the very important benefits of morning light is its effect on sleep quality. When morning light resets our body clock, it enables better regulation of melatonin - a hormone that makes one sleep. Melatonin production declines due to bright light experienced during the morning hours and creates a feeling of freshness in the body. Later during the night, melatonin increases once again, preparing our body for sleep.

In addition to sleep, morning light also helps improve mental health by inducing serotonin production. Serotonin, commonly known as the "feel-good" hormone, is essential for mood regulation and emotional well-being. The lack of serotonin has been associated with depression and anxiety. Exposure to natural light daily can reduce the risk factors associated with these conditions and improve overall mental health.

Role of Morning Light in Metabolism and Physical Health

Morning light doesn't just affect sleep and mood; it also affects physical health. Research has shown that getting early sunlight exposure can lead to better metabolic function and fewer chances of obesity. In addition, morning light exposure also controls cortisol levels, the stress hormone that peaks at its highest in the early hours. Proper regulation of cortisol helps maintain energy levels, boost immune function, and help control blood sugar.

Light exposure also impacts our digestive system. The gut is a circadian-based organ, and processes like movement of waste are more effective during the day. Therefore, morning light helps us get these processes in sync to ensure proper digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Why Timing Matters

The timing of light exposure is as important as the light itself. Exposure to light in the morning adjusts our circadian rhythms with the natural day-night cycle, thus better health in general. On the other hand, exposure to artificial light at night disrupts the rhythms, causing sleep problems, metabolic disorders, and even chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

For sleep disorders victims, light therapy is among the most recommended treatment plans that should be followed. Early exposure to bright light that is achieved through sunlight exposure or daylight simulators in any light box can correct imbalances in the body clocks and reduce symptoms of insomnia among other circadian rhythm diseases.

How to Get Morning Light into Your Daily Routine

You don't have to do much to incorporate morning light into your day. Small actions can add up:

• Spend 30 to 45 minutes outside within an hour of waking.
• Take a walk or enjoy breakfast on the porch to maximize exposure.
• Let sunlight directly hit your skin and eyes (don't wear sunglasses).
• The light coming through windows or umbrellas isn't as effective.

Consistency is key. Try to wake up at the same time every day and add light exposure to your morning routine. Even on overcast days, natural light has good effects. Open windows or take a step outside to garner its benefits.

Effect of Light Misalignment

While morning light is beneficial, exposure to light at the wrong time can have serious health consequences. Light pollution, even from dim artificial sources, disrupts the natural sleep-wake cycle. This can impair heart rate, glucose metabolism, and mental health, increasing the risk of depression and anxiety.

Night owls and night shift workers are especially susceptible to these impacts, as their routines frequently conflict with the natural cycles of the body. Research indicates that such mismatched exposure to light increases risks for chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Apart from effects on sleep and metabolism, morning light impacts attention, alertness, and productivity. Mental acuity is greater in the afternoon and evening but is heavily influenced by the amount of early light exposure. Activities requiring concentration - such as driving or working-on benefit from a well set body clock.

It regulates morning light with respect to muscle activity and blood pressure. Since the liver and kidneys break down toxins and drugs in the human body, that too speaks to the importance of maintaining one's health and fitness level.

Exposure to morning light is a simple and powerful tool for improving your health. From regulating sleep to mood, boosting metabolic, and physical functions, exposure to morning light is abundant and well-documented. Find ways to incorporate morning light into your daily routine in the form of stepping outside in the morning, having a breakfast al fresco or opening your windows.

Get your body clock aligned to natural light and pave a way for better health and improved well-being and a more productive day.

Did you also wake up with a mild cold? A sneeze, blocked nose and a sore throat. It is worse because you had just shaken off the miserable cold and your energy was finally coming back and then now again you are sneezing. So, now the question is, could you really get the same cold twice, or is it just your bad luck?

As per the National Health Service, UK (NHS), adults could get an average of 2 to 4 colds a year. The NHS, UK notes that the viruses behind them behave in a complicated way. This is because some mutate quickly, and some stay in your system. This is why your body's ability to fight them off can differ depending on how well does your immune respond.

Catching The Same Cold, Twice

Conventionally, it is believed that once you have a virus, your body recognizes it and does not let you catch the same virus again. However, this is not the case, always.

Professor Brain Ferguson, who is the professor of viral immunity at the University of Cambridge told Yahoo UK, that it is possible to catch cold twice. This is due to the levels of antibodies that we have in our system.

Ferguson says, "It depends on the quality of the antibodies that your body generates when you get infected the first time. Sometimes your body might make really good ones, and that will stop you being reinfected with the same virus later. But another person might not, and they can catch the same virus, exactly the same one, again later."

The expert further added, "It is also down to the actual molecules, and the constituents of the virus, like proteins and things you make antibodies against. The longer they exist in your body, the better the antibody response tends to be."

This means that the cold can stay in your system, and the longer it stays the better your immune system will be prepared to build up a stronger defense.

Reinfection Time: How Long Does It Take?

If you had two colds very close together, you may not have had enough time to build immune response the first time. Ferguson says, "Reinfection can be very fast."

"It can be as soon as a couple of weeks if the antibody response is very weak... You might pick up a virus and get a few minor symptoms, but fight it off really quickly. In that case, you get much weaker antibodies that fight the virus, which means the same virus appears in your system again very quickly."

This means your body only has a "fleeting encounter" with the virus and thus it won't remember it well enough to protect you the next time. However, a more severe cold may trigger a stronger immune response, which can work as a longer-lasting protection.

Why Some People Catch More Often?

This has something to do with genetics. This is because of their immune system, how good it works against different infections. As Ferguson says, "Some people are just naturally better or worse at fighting off viruses or bacteria due to their genetic makeup."

While it is believed that multivitamins and supplements can help "boost" immunity, Ferguson says that the evidence is mixed.

There’s not a great evidence base for [vitamins] for repeat infections," he says. However, Ferguson adds there is evidence that people who spend more time outside and get more vitamin D tend to have a slightly better-functioning immune system.

Flu season has arrived, and while the summer wave of COVID-19 has subsided, a winter increase is expected. Vaccines are available for both viruses, prompting many to ask about timing, especially if they haven’t received their shots yet. With the CDC updating guidelines, rules around vaccination are constantly evolving, so the most common question is: can you get your COVID and flu shots at the same time?

Can You Get Your Covid And Flu Shots At The Same Time?

The COVID-19 vaccine can be administered alongside a seasonal flu shot for those who prefer to get both at once. It is considered completely safe. “There are no recommendations against it; it mainly comes down to personal preference,” Dr. Mike Ren, an assistant professor of family and community medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine explained. He added that some people may experience mild fatigue with vaccines, and getting multiple shots at the same time could slightly increase that effect.

Many people are already familiar with how their bodies react to flu and COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID shot can sometimes cause soreness in the arm, so it’s recommended to avoid getting both vaccines in the same arm if that happens. For those who experience minimal side effects, there’s no disadvantage to receiving both shots at the same visit. Some choose to space them out simply based on convenience.

Which Covid Shot To Get?

For individuals who have experienced strong reactions to the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA COVID vaccines, the Novavax shot, which uses a more traditional protein-based method may offer an alternative with fewer temporary side effects, according to Caitlin Rivers, an infectious-disease epidemiologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Males aged 12 to 29 may particularly consider Novavax, as it carries no known risk of myocarditis, a rare heart inflammation sometimes associated with mRNA vaccines. Andrew Pavia, a pediatrics infectious-disease physician at the University of Utah, noted that myocarditis cases linked to mRNA vaccines are generally mild, and COVID-19 itself poses a higher risk of heart complications.

Pavia also explained that there are no major differences between the current Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, so people can choose whichever is more convenient or available.

When Should You Get A Flu Vaccine?

The ideal time to get a flu vaccine is generally from late September through October. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, recommends aiming to be vaccinated before Halloween, in line with CDC guidance.

While many pharmacies begin offering flu shots as early as July or August, Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, advises waiting a bit longer. This is because vaccine protection can wane after a few months, and flu cases often peak between December and February.

Even if you miss the early window, it’s still worthwhile to get vaccinated. “Some protection is better than none,” Dr. Chin-Hong emphasizes.

Staying up to date with both COVID-19 and flu vaccinations is an important step in protecting your health during the respiratory virus season. Getting the shots at the same time is safe and convenient for most people, though minor side effects like fatigue or soreness may be slightly increased.

Nearly five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, new variants of the virus are spreading again, bringing with them some unusual symptoms. The main strains currently circulating are called Stratus and Nimbus. According to the NHS, Stratus, which includes the XFG and XFG.3 variants, has caused a 60 percent rise in Covid hospitalisations.

As cases increase worldwide, one woman who recently tested positive described this infection as the “worst it’s ever been.” With more people falling sick, the NHS continues to update its warnings and guidance.

Could That Toothache Be ‘Frankenstein’ Variant?

A woman from the US, Nev, shared on TikTok that she began feeling slightly unwell on August 30, with mild congestion and one blocked nostril. The next day, she noticed a scratchy throat and continued congestion, but later that night, her symptoms worsened as she experienced pain in her teeth, jaw, and head. Her post quickly drew comments from others who said they had also suffered similar symptoms while infected with Covid.

The Stratus strain has been linked to a sudden hoarse voice, while the Nimbus strain often causes severe throat pain described by some as feeling like “swallowing razor blades.” Health officials in the UK have warned that Covid is still leading to serious illness and deaths and have urged people to stay alert to new and unusual symptoms.

Frankenstein Variant Symptoms

The “Frankenstein” variant, officially known as Stratus (XFG), is a recombinant form of the Omicron strain of COVID-19. Its symptoms often resemble those of a seasonal cold or flu. While most infections are mild, some patients have reported unusual signs such as sudden hoarseness or a raspy voice.

Common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Runny or blocked nose
• Fatigue and body aches
• Headache
• Digestive issues

Are Frankenstein And Stratus Variant Same?

The Frankenstein variant and the Stratus variant refer to the same strain of COVID-19, officially known as XFG. The nickname “Frankenstein” emerged because the variant is a recombinant of multiple Omicron sublineages, essentially a genetic mix that combines traits from different versions of the virus. The scientific name Stratus (XFG) is the formal term used by health authorities such as the UKHSA.

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), anyone showing symptoms of a respiratory infection such as COVID-19, especially if they have a fever or feel too unwell to continue daily activities should try to stay home and avoid contact with vulnerable people.

If staying home isn’t possible, the agency advises taking extra precautions to reduce the risk of spreading infection. This includes wearing a well-fitted mask with multiple layers or a surgical mask, avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, and opting for outdoor exercise where there is minimal contact with others. People are also urged to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, wash their hands often with soap and water or use sanitizer, and avoid touching their face.

The simplest way to confirm if you have COVID-19 is by taking a test, which can be purchased at most pharmacies.