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The Biologic Effects of Grounding the Human Body During Sleep as Measured by Cortisol Levels and Subjective Reporting of Sleep, Pain, and Stress
Abstract
Diurnal cortisol secretion levels were measured and circadian cortisol profiles were evaluated in a pilot study conducted to test the hypothesis that grounding the human body to earth during sleep will result in quantifiable changes in cortisol. It was also hypothesized that grounding the human body would result in changes in sleep, pain, and stress (anxiety, depression, irritability), as measured by subjective reporting.
Twelve (12) subjects with complaints of sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress were grounded to earth during sleep for 8 weeks in their own beds using a conductive mattress pad. Saliva tests were administered to establish pregrounding baseline cortisol levels. Levels were obtained at 4-hour intervals for a 24-hour period to determine the circadian cortisol profile. Cortisol testing was repeated at week 6. Subjective symptoms of sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress were reported daily throughout the 8-week test period.
Measurable improvements in diurnal cortisol profiles were observed, with cortisol levels significantly reduced during night-time sleep. Subjects' 24-hour circadian cortisol profiles showed a trend toward normalization. Subjectively reported symptoms, including sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress, were reduced or eliminated in nearly all subjects.
Results indicate that grounding the human body to earth ("earthing") during sleep reduces night-time levels of cortisol and resynchronizes cortisol hormone secretion more in alignment with the natural 24-hour circadian rhythm profile. Changes were most apparent in females. Furthermore, subjective reporting indicates that grounding the human body to earth during sleep improves sleep and reduces pain and stress.
... Eventually Ober's original discovery about the benefits of grounded sleep was followed by a formal study, "The Biologic Effects of Grounding the Human Body During Sleep as Measured by Cortisol Levels and Subjective Reporting of Sleep, Pain, and Stress" by Maurice Ghaly MD and Dale Teplitz, published in 2004 [30]. Cortisol is regarded as "the stress hormone." ...
... The important study by Ghaly and Teplitz [30] associated earthing with improved sleep and with effects on circadian cortisol rhythms. Effects on the endocrine system were confirmed independently by physicians in Poland, Karol and Pawel Sokal. ...
... The best explanation for the results is that grounding or earthing allows mobile electrons from the earth to enter our bodies and neutralize painful inflammation associated with chronic diseases of all kinds, wherever they may be located. The documented benefits: Improved sleep [30]. According to the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Sleep Association 50e70 million US adults have difficulty sleeping, and drowsy driving is responsible for 1550 fatalities and 40,000 nonfatal injuries annually in the United States [41]. ...
The research on grounding or earthing summarized here is providing valuable clues about why chronic and autoimmune diseases are rampant, simple and reliable help for those with these health issues, and promising paths forward. During the period when this research was getting started, approximately 2000 to the present, scientists from around the world were establishing connections between inflammation and virtually all chronic diseases (Table I) using the c-reactive protein assay developed by Ridker and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School. This article reviews Earthing, a safe therapy that optimizes (balances) each person’s unique physiological functions; and that provides relief from the major diseases of the aging population; and that may slow the aging process itself. This statement is made because of the recognition that cumulative damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS), sometimes referred to as free radicals, is one of the most widely studied theories of the cause of aging. Because the continuous semiconducting fabric of the body reaches into every part of the body, including the interiors of all cells and their nuclei, mobile electrons in the grounded or earthed person are thought to be capable of rapidly neutralizing ROS produced by oxidative metabolism taking place in every cell and tissue.
... In non-pharmacologic therapy for AD, light therapy was reported to improve PSQI score, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency by regulating the circadian rhythms of cortisol levels [28,29]. A previous study showed that grounding the body can improve sleep quality by normalizing diurnal cortisol rhythms [30]. In a blinded pilot study, most grounded subjects experienced symptomatic improvement in feeling rested upon waking, sleep quality, and time taken to fall asleep; the results revealed a realignment and normal trend of circadian cortisol patterns after 6 weeks of grounding [11]. ...
... Although no study has applied grounding to the BPSD of dementia, a previous study showed that grounding reduces stress and improves sleep quality, which can further improve anxiety and depression in clinical observation [15]. Grounding has been proven to improve cortisol-related sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and irritability [30]. Grounding for 1 h can improve pleasant and positive moods in healthy participants compared to those in a control group [7]. ...
... Grounding for 1 h can improve pleasant and positive moods in healthy participants compared to those in a control group [7]. It was also found that participants felt less emotional stress, such as anxiety, depression, or irritability, after grounding, which may be related to the normalization of cortisol and circadian levels in the body [30]. Hence, we hypothesized that grounding has the potential to improve anxiety and depression by improving circadian rhythm. ...
Background:
Grounding refers to having direct contact with the Earth, such as by walking barefoot or lying on the ground. Research has found that grounding can improve inflammation, free radical damage, blood pressure, sleep quality, pain, stress, mood, and wound healing. However, there has been no research on the effect of utilizing grounding for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, in this study, we investigated the effectiveness of grounding as a non-pharmacological therapy for treating sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression in patients with mild AD.
Methods:
Patients with mild AD were enrolled in the study. The electrochemical analyzer CHI 1205b was employed to check the electrochemical signals at acupoints KI1 and GV16. We used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to evaluate sleep quality, anxiety, and depression, respectively, at weeks 0 and 12.
Results:
This 12-week placebo-controlled study enrolled 22 patients, but only 15 patients completed the 12-week intervention and survey. Grounding significantly improved PSQI scores compared to the sham-grounding group (mean ± SD: 0.3 ± 0.7 vs. 3.0 ± 1.9, p = 0.006). The scores on the BAI and BDI-II did not change significantly after grounding in comparison to the sham-grounding group.
Conclusions:
Grounding can improve sleep quality, but it does not significantly improve anxiety and depression among patients with mild AD.
... Ober, (2000) e Ghaly & Teplitz, (2004) avaliaram o efeito do aterramento ao nível da qualidade do sono. Os resultados do estudo de Ober, (2000), demonstram uma melhoria da qualidade do sono, uma maior sensação de descanso ao acordar, menos tempo para adormecer, menos rigidez muscular, menos dor crónica e dor articular e um aumento do bem-estar geral no grupo que realizou o aterramento, comparativamente ao placebo. ...
... Contudo, verificaram-se várias limitações metodológicas nomeadamente o facto de não terem sido referenciados os instrumentos de medida utilizados, nem os critérios de exclusão, os participantes e os investigadores não foram cegos, e não foi realizada uma análise estatística dos resultados. Ghaly & Teplitz, (2004) & Oschman, 2006;Gaetan Chevalier & Ph, 2010;Sinatra & Chevalier, 2011;Sinatra, Oschman, & Delany, 2013;Sokal et al., 2013). Gaétan Chevalier et al., (2006) (Gaétan Chevalier et al., 2006). ...
... investigaram o efeito do aterramento nos níveis de cortisol (ng/ml) ao longo de 24h (8pm; 12pm; 4am; 8am; 12am; 4pm) através de testes de saliva, na qualidade do sono através do Daily Sleep Survey e na dor e no stress através do Weekly Pain Survey (modified SF12 survey form). Verificou-se um aumento dos níveis de cortisol às 8am , superior a 10%, em 8 dos 12 participantes (n=12) e uma diminuição às 12pm, superior a 10%, em 10 dos 12 participantes, após 6 semanas de aterramento(Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004). Ao nível da qualidade dosono constatou-se uma diminuição de 44% na média do número de vezes que os participantes acordavam durante a noite, uma diminuição da fadiga, da dor e do stress emocional e um aumento da energia durante o dia, após 8 semanas de aterramento. ...
Revisão da literatura: O aterramento/grounding consiste no contacto, direto ou indireto, entre a pele e a superfície terrestre.Os possíveis benefícios do aterramento cingem-se à ativação do sistema nervoso parassimpático (SNP), melhoria da qualidade do sono, à diminuição de mediadores pró-inflamatórios e à diminuição da intensidade da dor.O objetivo do estudo é avaliar o efeito do grounding versus ungrounding, ao nível da dor, em repouso, à contração e ao alongamento dos gémeos e do bicípite, após a realização de exercícios excêntricos direcionada para os músculos mencionados.
Conclusão: O contacto direto com a terra, realizado bi-diariamente durante 30 minutos não altera a intensidade da DMIT, após a realização de exercícios excêntricos para os flexores plantares e flexores do cotovelo.
... Healing-related pains usually lessen, often significantly, in intensity and duration. [25][26][27][28][29] ...
... Consequently, any natural method for relieving stress has enormous potential to prevent or decrease the negative effects of most diseases. In multiple studies, 25,29,[34][35][36] grounding has been documented to exert a beneficial effect on stress, a likely result of systemic influences in the body, including (1) a normalizing influence on cortisol, the stress hormone 25 ; ...
... In a 2004 study, 12 participants slept grounded for 8 weeks. 25 Eleven reported that they fell asleep faster. All reported waking fewer times during the night. ...
Context • Modern biomedicine has discovered that many of the most debilitating diseases, as well as the aging process itself, are caused by or associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Emerging research has revealed that direct physical contact with the surface of the planet generates a kind of electric nutrition, with surprisingly potent and rapid anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Objectives • The objective of this study was to explain the potential of grounding to clinicians as a simple strategy for prevention, therapy, and improving patient outcomes. The research summarized here has pursued the goal of determining the physiological and clinical significance of biological grounding. Design • The research team has summarized more than 12 peer-reviewed reports. Where appropriate, blinded studies examined in this paper were conducted using a variety of statistical procedures. Interventions • In all cases, the intervention examined conductive contact between the surface of Earth and the study’s participants, using conductive bed sheets, floor or desk pads, and electrode patches, such as those used in electrocardiography. Results • All studies discussed revealed significant physiological or clinical outcomes as a result of grounding. Conclusion • This body of research has demonstrated the potential of grounding to be a simple, natural, and accessible clinical strategy against the global epidemic of noncommunicable, degenerative, inflammatory-related diseases. © 2017 Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. All rights reserved.
... No improvement in any of the four mood scales was expected for the Control group. Because this study was part of a larger study with limited funding, and also because there are no precedents of measuring the eff ects of grounding on mood, the closest to measuring mood being a few papers getting subjective information on participants' feeling of well-being and pain level with no statistical analysis ( Ober, 2000 ;Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004 ), 536 there was no way to estimate how many participants would be needed to obtain the usual power of 0.8. Consequently, the number of participants was determined according to available resources, and about twice as many participants were put in the experimental group with the goal of maximizing the chances of seeing a small eff ect. ...
... Combining the results of these mood scales, it is apparent that the Grounded group had a more pleasant experience, felt more positive, less negative, and more relaxed than the control group. These results are similar to prior studies on grounding that show decreased stress ( Ober, 2000 ;Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004 ;Chevalier, Mori, & Oschman, 2006 ;Chevalier, 2010 ;Chevalier & Sinatra, 2011 ), improved sleep ( Ober, 2000 ;Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004 ), and normalization of cortisol levels ( Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004 ). ...
... Combining the results of these mood scales, it is apparent that the Grounded group had a more pleasant experience, felt more positive, less negative, and more relaxed than the control group. These results are similar to prior studies on grounding that show decreased stress ( Ober, 2000 ;Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004 ;Chevalier, Mori, & Oschman, 2006 ;Chevalier, 2010 ;Chevalier & Sinatra, 2011 ), improved sleep ( Ober, 2000 ;Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004 ), and normalization of cortisol levels ( Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004 ). ...
-Earthing (grounding) refers to bringing the body in contact with the Earth. Health benefits were previously reported, but no study exists about mood. This study was conducted to assess if Earthing improves mood. 40 adult participants were either grounded or sham-grounded (no grounding) for 1 hr. while relaxing in a comfortable recliner chair equipped with a conductive pillow, mat, and patches connecting them to the ground. This pilot project was double-blinded and the Brief Mood Introspection Scale (comprising 4 mood scales) was used. Pleasant and positive moods statistically significantly improved among grounded-but not sham-grounded-participants. It is concluded that the 1-hr. contact with the Earth improved mood more than expected by relaxation alone. More extensive studies are, therefore, warranted.
... For instance, grounding has been shown to increase brain alpha waves [97], which are not only observed in the relaxed mental state but also show similarities with the fundamental SR as described above. Grounding improves sleep and normalizes the secretion of cortisol and melatonin [98]. People who sleep grounded reported better quality of sleep and showed reduced levels of night-time cortisol [98]. ...
... Grounding improves sleep and normalizes the secretion of cortisol and melatonin [98]. People who sleep grounded reported better quality of sleep and showed reduced levels of night-time cortisol [98]. Levels of cortisol monitored during the day were also more synchronized with the circadian rhythm. ...
Living organisms have evolved within the natural electromagnetic fields of the earth which comprise atmospheric electricity, Schumann resonances and the geomagnetic field. Research suggests that the circadian rhythm, which controls several physiological functions in the human body, can be influenced by light but also by the earth's electromagnetic fields. Cyclic solar disturbances, including sunspots and seasonal weakening of the geomagnetic field, can affect human health, possibly by disrupting the circadian rhythm and downstream physiological functions. Severe disruption of the circadian rhythm increases inflammation which can induce fatigue, fever and flu-like symptoms in a fraction of the population and worsen existing symptoms in old and diseased individuals, leading to periodic spikes of infectious and chronic diseases. Possible mechanisms underlying sensing of the earth's electromagnetic fields involve entrainment, light-dependent radical pair formation in retina cryptochromes, and paramagnetic magnetite nanoparticles. Factors such as electromagnetic pollution from wireless devices and antennas, shielding by non-conductive materials used in shoes and buildings, and local geomagnetic anomalies may also affect sensing of the earth's electromagnetic fields by the human body and contribute to circadian rhythm disruption and disease development.
... Este fenômeno ajuda a compreender como os pacientes com condições inflamatórias, tratados com o estímulo da migração de cargas elétricas nos locais de inflamação aguda ou crônica, apresentam melhora de seus quadros, ao prevenir "danos colaterais" para tecidos saudáveis nas proximidades de uma lesão (SOKAL et al., 2013;OSCHMAN, 2009;GHALY;TEPLITZ, 2004). ...
... Este fenômeno ajuda a compreender como os pacientes com condições inflamatórias, tratados com o estímulo da migração de cargas elétricas nos locais de inflamação aguda ou crônica, apresentam melhora de seus quadros, ao prevenir "danos colaterais" para tecidos saudáveis nas proximidades de uma lesão (SOKAL et al., 2013;OSCHMAN, 2009;GHALY;TEPLITZ, 2004). ...
Postpolyelitis Syndrome (PPS) is a slow-progressing degenerative neurological disorder that is in the category of motor neuron diseases. PPS is characterized by the development of new neuromuscular symptoms such as: abnormal fatigue, new muscle weakness - both of the muscles that were originally affected and those that were not previously affected. Patients with inflammatory conditions, by stimulating the migration of electrical charges at sites of acute or chronic inflammation, show improvement in their pictures, by preventing "collateral damage" to healthy tissues in the vicinity of an injury. To evaluate a technology to reduce ionic loads in the impact of joint, muscular and cramp pain in patients with PPS. Twenty patients were randomly selected and randomly selected to form two groups with 10 subjects each. The Control Group (CG) used a pad with soap plates, but without ion technology for the treatment of pain due to cramps. The Intervention Group (GT) used a pillow with plates wrapped in soap with ion technology. Each patient was submitted to evaluations related to pain, cramp and quality of life. In both groups there was a statistically significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of cramps after 10 days of use of the cushion with or without ion technology. The ionic reduction technology used reduced the intensity and frequency of cramps in patients with PPS.
... Actually, evidence-based research regarding the effectiveness of grounding is lacking. The narrative review of Chevalier et al. (2012) included grounding studies that indicated improvements in sleep (Ghaly and Teplitz, 2004), indices of DOMS (Brown et al., 2010;, autonomic tone (Sinatra, 2011) and reduction in blood viscosity (Chevalier et al., 2013;. Due to the potentially reduced blood viscosity, enhanced blood flow velocity, improved sleep quality and decreased muscle damage, it is suggested that grounding could be implemented as a viable, effective recovery tool after strenuous exercise. ...
... However, the current study revealed that GRD showed lower decrements in performance with respect to CMJ, maximal leg strength (MVIC), a trend for DJ coefficient and less pronounced in increase in CK when compared with UGD. The less pronounced decrease in measures of performance (strength, jump performance) and less increase in CK levels within the GRD group might be attributed toward potentially reduced blood viscosity (Chevalier et al., 2013;, enhanced blood flow velocity, improved sleep quality (Ghaly and Teplitz, 2004) and decreased muscle damage (Brown et al., 2010; as it is clearly demonstrated by the blood analyses of the present study. Referring to Chevalier et al. (2006);Oschman (2007), and Oschman et al. (2015) the main hypothesis about earthing is based on the connection to the surface of the Earth, which is satiated with free electrons. ...
Purpose: We set out to investigate the effectiveness of grounded sleeping on the time course of recovery with respect to muscle soreness and athletic performance after intensive eccentric muscle loading.
Methods: Twenty-two healthy participants were recruited for this study and randomly assigned to an experimental group (GRD, grounded sleeping, n = 12) or control group (UGD, sham-grounded sleeping, n = 10) to evaluate the effects of 10 days recovery with GRD vs. UGD following a single intensive downhill treadmill intervention in a triple-blinded (participant, tester, and data analyst) manner. To operationalize recovery a test battery was performed at baseline and on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 post-intervention: (1) perception of muscle soreness (VAS), (2) creatine kinase blood levels (CK), (3) maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) for both legs, (4) counter movement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) performance. Furthermore, in four participants blood was sampled for detailed analysis of complete blood counts and serum-derived inflammation markers.
Results: The downhill treadmill running intervention led to distinct changes in all measured parameters related to fatigue. These changes were detectable already 5-min post intervention and were not fully recovered 10 days post intervention. GRD led to less pronounced decrease in performance (CMJ, MVIC) and less increase with respect to CK compared with UGD (all P < 0.05). Detailed blood samples demonstrated that grounded sleeping modulates the recovery process by (a) keeping a constant hemoconcentration, as represented by the number of erythrocytes, and the hemoglobin/hematocrit values; and (b) by the reduction of muscle damage-associated inflammation markers such as, IP-10, MIP-1α, and sP-Selectin.
Conclusion: The downhill running protocol is a feasible methodology to produce long term muscle soreness and muscular fatigue. GRD was shown to result in faster recovery and/or less pronounced markers of muscle damage and inflammation. GRD might be seen as a simple methodology to enhance acute and long-term recovery after intensive eccentric exercises.
... 3,4 Living in direct contact with the earth grounds the body, inducing favorable physiological and electrophysiological changes that promote optimum health. 5 Regulation of circadian rhythms and improved sleep and nighttime cortisol dynamics reflect a few changes associated with favorable autonomic nervous system (ANS) function that can come about with grounding. 5,6 The many unpredictable sociological, economic, and political events of the 21st century have increased the stress of modern living as compared to earlier and simpler times. ...
... 5 Regulation of circadian rhythms and improved sleep and nighttime cortisol dynamics reflect a few changes associated with favorable autonomic nervous system (ANS) function that can come about with grounding. 5,6 The many unpredictable sociological, economic, and political events of the 21st century have increased the stress of modern living as compared to earlier and simpler times. As a result, more and more people live day-to-day in unrelenting states of heightened physiological arousal. ...
... 8 Peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of grounding. Benefits include: decreased blood urea concentrations during exercise; 9 increased surface charge on red blood cells and decreased aggregation; 4 improved heart rate variability; 10 decreased night-time levels of cortisol; 11 and decreased blood oxygenation variances. 12 A pilot study that created delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) via eccentric contractions pointed toward a positive alteration in the immune system and reduction of pain after grounding. ...
... It has been shown that earthing influences cortisol secretion patterns and sleep quality. 11 It was also shown that earthing affects mineral and electrolyte concentration in blood serum, especially iron, ionized calcium, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Renal excretion of both phosphorus and calcium decreased significantly. ...
Grounding a human to the earth has resulted in changes in the physiology of the body. A pilot study on grounding and eccentric contractions demonstrated shortened duration of pain, reduced creatine kinase (CK), and differences in blood parameters. This follow-up study was conducted to investigate the effects of grounding after moderate eccentric contractions on pain, CK, and complete blood counts. Thirty-two healthy young men were randomly divided into grounded (n=16) and sham-grounded (n=16) groups. On days 1 through 4, visual analog scale for pain evaluations and blood draws were accomplished. On day 1, the participants performed eccentric contractions of 200 half-knee bends. They were then grounded or sham-grounded to the earth for 4 hours on days 1 and 2. Both groups experienced pain on all posttest days. On day 2, the sham-grounded group experienced significant CK increase (P<0.01) while the CK of the grounded group did not increase significantly; the between-group difference was significant (P=0.04). There was also an increase in the neutrophils of the grounded group on day 3 (P=0.05) compared to the sham-grounded group. There was a significant increase in platelets in the grounded group on days 2 through 4. Grounding produced changes in CK and complete blood counts that were not shared by the sham-grounded group. Grounding significantly reduced the loss of CK from the injured muscles indicating reduced muscle damage. These results warrant further study on the effects of earthing on delayed onset muscle damage.
... In that regard, the present results support previous studies reporting reduction in stress 2 and improved sleep and relaxation. 1 Combining observations for blood oxygenation with higher respiratory rate during and after grounding, it seems that the body consumption of oxygen increased during grounding and stayed that way for at least 10 minutes after ungrounding. From that, one can conclude that (1) grounding increases oxygen consumption, necessitating an increase in respiratory rate, (2) ungrounding perturbs a process started during grounding, and (3) this process does not stop at ungrounding but continues for at least 40 minutes after. ...
... 8 The findings presented in this article support previous findings regarding stress reduction and improved sleep. 1,2 This warrants more research to understand first the physiologic and electrophysiologic changes happening during grounding and, on a longer term, the implications and ramifications of grounding for health maintenance and=or disease prevention. This could be an important result that can lead to methods for improving people's health naturally and to cut health care costs by preventing a host of problems and diseases related to stress. ...
... Although research evidence regarding the benefits of grounding is still developing, at least 20 studies to date have reported benefits to having a grounded versus ungrounded body, such as increased energy, better sleep, and reduced pain and stress Chevalier et al. 2012;Menigoz et al. 2020;Oschman et al. 2015). The physiological effects of grounding have perhaps most commonly been measured by cortisol levels and subjective information about sleep, pain, and stress (Ghaly and Teplitz 2004). However, some studies have suggested measurable biological effects, such as differences in white blood cell concentrations, cytokines, and inflammatory responses (Oschman et al. 2015). ...
This chapter discusses the merits of harmonious relationships between people, society, and nature, and their potential to help address increasing societal vulnerabilities. In recent years, The Chilean National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) has developed the concept of nature bathing , through its Nature for Everyone program. Nature bathing draws from validated programs that have been found to strengthen the immune system and reduce anxiety, depression, and stress, all of which may contribute to greater psychological resilience. Specifically, CONAF’s Nature Bathing program integrates elements of the cosmovision and practices associated with forest bathing ( Shinrin Yoku , in Japanese), grounding , and Andean Indigenous and popular culture. Accredited experts facilitate a 2–3-hour experience in a PA, promoting a reflective meditation ( mindfulness ), that immerses participants in the environment by activating the senses. This chapter reviews the health benefits attributed to spending time in nature and developing direct relationships with nature. Next, we share some practices and traditions being employed around the world to purposefully rebuild human connections with nature. Then, we delve into CONAF’s Nature Bathing initiative, as an example of a transformative program designed to strengthen the role of PAs as public health infrastructure and help visitors build resilience while rediscovering their interconnectedness with nature.
... Decades of research are beginning to show just how healing grounding is [24]. Studies on the neuromodulative role of grounding have shown that grounding immediately shifts brains waves, boosting alpha brain wave patterns on EEG within milliseconds [25], deepens sleep [26] and significantly improves mood [27]. These results suggest that connecting our electrical central nervous system with the earth's electrical field can have such a supportive impact on our brain it not only supports brain function it can even improve our outlook and how we feel. ...
... We used a video camera, and swimming behaviors were analyzed. Total duration of immobility (lack of motion of the whole body, climbing (vigorous movements) and swimming (large forepaw movements displaced the body around the cylinder) were examined [6,[14][15][16]. ...
Grounding is a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect us to the earth. The physiological effects of grounding have been reported from a variety of perspectives such as sleep or pain. However, its anti-stress efficacy is relatively unknown. The present study investigated the stress-related behavioral effects of earthing mat and its neurohormonal mechanisms in the Sprague–Dawley male rat. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: the naïve normal (Normal), the 21 days immobilization stressed (Control), the 21 days stressed + earthing mat for 7 days (A7) or 21 days (A21) group. The depressive-and anxiety like behaviors were measured by forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and elevated plus maze (EPM). Using immunohistochemistry, the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and c-Fos immunoreactivity were analyzed in the brain. In the EPM, time spent in the open arm of the earthing mat groups was significantly increased compared to the Control group (p < 0.001), even though there were without effects among groups in the FST and TST. The expression of CRF immunoreactive neurons in the earthing mat group was markedly decreased compared to the Control group. Overall, the earthing mat reduced stress-induced behavioral changes and expression of c-Fos and CRF immunoreactivity in the brain. These results suggest that the earthing mat may have the potential to improve stress-related responses via the regulation of the corticotrophinergic system.
... Other research over the last decade demonstrate that grounding studies have documented results including reduced inflammation and pain [ 20,21,22], better sleep [ 23], improved response to trauma and injuries with accelerated wound healing [ 21,24,25], improved blood flow [ 20,26], and reduced blood viscosity [ 9,10]. ...
Grounding or earthing could be the anti-inflammatory antidote for modern man. It is one of the greatest kept secrets when it comes to our health and aliveness and only a small part of the scientific community really understands the concept. Once health professionals and others realize that grounding is especially important in preventing inflammatory illness, an incredible effect on public health will be realized. The breath of validation from previous published data and real-life testimonials is a testimony of the earth’s dramatic impact on healing the human body.
Health information is constantly changing as a result of new research in various approaches to treating a multitude of inflammatory conditions. Sometimes, even with the most relevant published data, it is difficult to choose which advice is most conducive for healing. For example, it has been noted that perhaps one-third of the medical literature could be fraudulent.. Understanding absolute versus relative risk can also be confusing even for health professionals. And when data is reported in relative risk, only a fraction of the real science is revealed. However, one small established fact that conveys universal agreement is the simple correlation that inflammation is the root cause of almost all diseases!
... This claim appears based on the findings of a single pilot study. Ghaly & Teplitz [48] investigated if the cortisol levels of individuals (N ¼ 12) would be affected by grounding the body during the night. Though the results of that study initially appear impressive, as none of those assessed acted as controls, the placebo effect cannot be ruled out. ...
There are a growing number of studies investigating how grounding (earthing) the body may benefit biological performance and aid the treatment of non-communicable diseases. Research also indicates how biological grounding initiatives can sometimes be compromised, or inappropriate, and the need to take additional factors into account as potential contributory factors, or confounders, to expected results. It is proposed that expanding electromagnetic hygiene measures beyond biological grounding alone may help reduce spread of communicable diseases, incidence of respiratory conditions, neurodegenerative disease and all-cause mortality. Identifying potential synergies that exist could enable multilevel interventions to further increase the efficacy of measures. It is hoped that this review will help act as a catalyst to inspire and inform multi-disciplinary research within these topic areas, best practices and policies to help drive medical innovation, reduce health burdens, improve bioelectromagnetic-based therapies, and influence the general design of the built environment and next-generation technologies.
... As habits require reward, there is a need for reflection and acknowledgement on the benefits being derived from the habit. As nature connection is associated objectively with many measures of health in lowering manifestations of physical stress and boosting our immune system (Oschman et al., 2015) and autonomic functioning (Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004), as well as subjectively increasing the mental and emotional well-being through higher reported levels of flourishing, subjective vitality, positive emotions, lower levels of negative emotions (Wolsko & Lindberg, 2013), and increased outlook on life (Godbey, 2009), there is an inherent reward in engaging with nature if only attention is brought to it. ...
Background: 45–60% of global climate emissions come from individual consumerism choices. In Western culture, nature is seen as a resource, a series of challenges to conquer, limited to facts and figures, or a threat. As practices and language of sustainability still view the environment simply as a resource, and therefore as something separate from us that can be used, any gains in sustainability are simply band-aids covering the deep wound of relationship. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose a shift in focus to practices of nature-connection in outdoor education programming to develop habits of reciprocity and enhance human and nature well-being and relationship. Methodology/Approach: Research demonstrates a practical way to change how we relate to our environment is to change our habits. The pathways of nature connection provide simple behaviors that improve human–nature relationship and well-being. Findings/Conclusions: The ecological crisis is nothing more than a crisis of relationship. The pathway lies not in sustainability and saviorship, but in reciprocity and relationship cultivated by forming habits of nature connection. Implications: By shifting programmatic focus to the development and transfer of nature connection habits, outdoor educators can start the ripples of reciprocity with nature.
... Additional and substantial benefits of earthing include stress reduction and mood enhancement, which are achieved through a stabilizing influence on nervous system and the stress hormone [20]. ...
The main goals of acute and long-term skincare are the protection and improvement of skin health and integrity. Skincare involves several procedures that help maintain the skin's integrity, improve its appearance, and alleviate skin problems. Proper blood flow is in dire need for the skin to absorb vital ingredients. There are many conventional treatments to help increase blood flow and recently it was discovered that connecting the with the electrical charges of the Earth, or "Grounding" can promote healthy blood flow in the facial region. Additionally, such effects of grounding do not seem limited to the facial region but are rather systemic, essential and are often quickly observable. Grounding also seems to reduce secondary injury, collateral sprouting, and nerve sensitization. In grounded patients, an increase in blood flow was clearly seen when compared directly to ungrounded subjects. The results of documented studies explain that even short contact with the Earth helps to restore blood flow regulation suggesting enhanced skin tissue repair and improved skin appearance with possible implications for overall health.
... Other mechanisms associated with earthing, according to Chevalier, include increased fluidity of blood (zeta potential), normalized levels of the stress hormone cortisol which produces a relaxing effect on the body, decreased inflammation-and enhanced overall physiology of the body. Stress reduction and mood enhancement are additional significant advantages of grounding, which can be achieved by a stabilizing effect on the autonomic nervous system and cortisol control, a stress hormone [22]. ...
Massage can alleviate the inflammatory process, help to accelerate recovery, and relieve pain resulting from muscular injuries. In this paper, we combine the idea of mechanotransduction (conversion of mechanical stimulus into electrochemical activity) using grounding in massage to investigate beneficial mechanisms. Grounding massage has been discovered to stabilize the physiology of the body, help reduce pain, inflammation, stress, enhance sleep, increase energy, and blood flow, and enhance well-being by connecting the body with the electrical charges of the Earth. Such effects are systemic and basic, and often quickly evolve. This process can reduce secondary injury, collateral sprouting, and nerve sensitization by modifying inflammatory signaling pathways, resulting in improved damage recovery and pain reduction or prevention. Research shows that grounding, when simultaneously combined with many CAM clinical practices, can offer great potential to improve their effectiveness. The paper aims to explain how massage therapy, combined with geographically and simultaneous earthing, causes a potentially beneficial and properly activated immunomodulatory pathway.
... Vergleicht man das subjektive Belastungsempfinden der Probanden, so zeigen sich keine (Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004). Wissenschaftler berichten über die entzündungshemmende Wirkung des Erdens (Ober, 2003), über eine geringere Viskosität des Blutes aufgrund eines höheren Zetapotentials roter Blutkörperchen und der damit einhergehenden geringeren Verklumpung dergleichen (G. ...
Erden beschreibt den Angleich des elektrischen Potentials des menschlichen Körpers an das der Erdoberfläche. Die Erdoberfläche beinhaltet einen unerschöpflichen Pool an freien, negativ geladenen Elektronen, die im geerdeten Zustand in den Organismus übergehen können und sein elektrisches Potential an das der Erde angleichen. Durch die Modernisierung unserer Lebenswelten hat der Mensch in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten zunehmend den direkten Kontakt zur Erde verloren. Laut Wissenschaftlern, die sich mit der Thematik des Erdens beschäftigen, kommt es durch den fehlenden Kontakt zur Erdoberfläche zu einem Elektronendefizit im menschlichen Körper. Dieses Elektronendefizit trage Mitschuld an der Entstehung einer Vielzahl von Zivilisationskrankheiten. Vor allem an jenen, denen chronische Entzündungen zugrunde liegen. Denn die bedeutendste Wirkung der freien, negativ geladenen Elektronen ist jene eines Antioxidans. Ein Antioxidans kann freie Radikale neutralisieren, indem es ein Elektron spendet. Freie Radikale gelten mittlerweile gesichert als Hauptverursacher von akuten und chronischen Entzündungen. Erste Untersuchungen und Pilotstudien bestätigen die positive Wirkung des Erdens auf verschiedene physiologische Parameter. So konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass geerdete Personen besser schlafen und sie seltener an Stress und Schmerzen leiden. Wissenschaftler berichten über die entzündungshemmende Wirkung des Erdens und über eine geringere Gewebsschädigung im Muskel bei geerdeten Personen nach exzentrischer Belastung. Diese und weitere Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass Erden auch im Leistungssport positive Effekte haben und beispielsweise zu einer schnelleren Regeneration beitragen könnte. In dieser Blindstudie im Cross-over-Design wurde untersucht, welche Wirkung Erden als kurzfristige Regenerationsmaßnahme zwischen intensiven Kraftausdauerbelastungen hat. Dazu absolvierten 17 Probanden im Abstand von 30 Minuten jeweils zwei 30-sekündige Wingate Tests. Die Pause zwischen den Wingate Tests diente der Regeneration, in der die Probanden im Liegen über eine Matte geerdet wurden. Die Ergebnisse der Studie zeigen, dass die Leistungsfähigkeit der Probanden nach einer 30-minütigen Regenerationsphase nicht vollständig wiederhergestellt werden kann. Im Vergleich zu den Wingate Tests vor der Regenerationspause ist die Leistung in der Peak Power und Average Power bei jenen nach der Erholung signifikant geringer. Zwischen den Bedingungen geerdet und nicht geerdet kommt es weder in den Ergebnissen der Wingate-Werte, noch in der Herzfrequenz, bei der BORG-Skala oder der Sauerstoffsättigung im Vastus lateralis zu einem Unterschied. Jedoch zeigt der Verlauf der Laktat- und Glukosewerte in der zweiten Regenerationsphase signifikante Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen.
... Probably, it could be the reason for rising incidences of fatigue, stress, poor sleep, chronic pain and inflammation in our modern society. Current evidences propose that reconnecting the body to earth can restore ANS dysfunction [7,8,9,10,12,13,14], reduce inflammation, chronic pain, muscle stiffness [10], improve sleep, alleviate stress [11,14], regularize circadian secretion of cortisol [15] and blood viscosity [16]. ...
Background and Objective: Though many factors are involved in the regulation of arterial blood pressure (BP), autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role in acute, short-term control. Any imbalance in ANS activity leads to dysregulation of BP and increases the risk of prehypertension. Recently, a few studies have shown that when the body is connected to the earth’s surface using conductive patches or wires, there will be an immediate correction of ANS dysfunction. Expecting similar results, the present study was designed to evaluate the short-term effects of direct barefoot contact with the earth, i.e. without using patches or wires, on prehypertension. Methods: After screening 150 participants, 53 prehypertensives were selected for the study. They were randomly assigned into a study group (n=28) and control group (n=25). Each participant from the study group remained barefooted; i.e. in contact with the ground, for a period of an hour, whereas the control group did not have ground contact. Blood pressure was recorded again at the end of one hour and compared. Data were analysed by paired and unpaired ‘t’ test. A ‘P’ value less than 0.005 was considered significant. Results: There was a significant decrease in SBP (P<0.0001), DBP (P<0.0014) and MBP (P<0.0001) of study subjects after an hour of barefoot contact. However, there was no significant change in the control group. Conclusion: Our study results indicate that direct barefoot contact with the earth reduces blood pressure in prehypertensive individuals. Remaining barefoot, whenever possible, can be a simple, cost-effective and innovative method in preventing hypertension.
... Også i sfaeren av positive ioner ved en gitt høyde noen kilometer opp i atmosfaeren er det praktisk talt ingen horisontal variasjon av elektriske ladninger (Dolezalek et al. 2008;. hjerteratevariabilitet , humør (Chevalier 2015), og reduserte kortisolnivåer nattetid, bedret subjektivt vurdert søvnkvalitet og smertenivåer (Ghaly & Teplitz 2004). Fellesfaktoren bak de mange effektene av jordkontakt kan vaere aktivering av det parasympatiske nervesystem og redusert inflammasjon . ...
Background: There has been little interest in the association between floor level and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The only previous study that has been found, observed a negative association. Suggested explanations were: the vertical distribution of air pollution and environmental noise; use of stairs; and selection of individuals of different socioeconomic status to different floor levels. A positive association has also been suggested, with basis in theory about the atmosphere’s electric properties. The public health relevance of increasing the knowledge is given by globally increasing urbanization and growth in high-rise residencies. The aim of this study has been to investigate the association between residence floor level and prevalence of CVD, with emphasis on stroke.
Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the Health and Environment in Oslo study (HELMILO) conducted in 2009, with a representative sample (N=12.479) of the inhabitants of Oslo, Norway, aged 39-85 years. Three self-reported health outcomes representing prevalence were included: stroke, venous thromboembolism (VTE) and intermittent claudication (IC). We studied bivariate associations between floor of bedroom (0-1,2-3,4-5,6-10 and ≥11) and health outcomes with chi square tests. Potential confounders (measures of socio-demography, socioeconomic status (SES) (education and occupational status) and health behaviors) were controlled for in multivariate logistic regression methods. We also fitted separate models for block apartment residents, tested for the presence of linear trends, and whether time at address (1-10 years versus >10 years) modified any of the associations.
Result: The prevalence of all health outcomes differed across floor levels (p<0.01 in all instances). In adjusted analyses, residents of 6-10th floor had an increased odds of VTE history (OR 1.720; 95 % CI 1.174-2.518) and residents of 11th floor or higher had an increased odds of IC history (OR 2.318; 95 % CI 1.237-4.345), compared to basement and 1st floor. We also found significant trends of increasing disease prevalence by floor level for all outcomes, including stroke. The associations disappeared upon investigations of block apartment residents separately, except for a higher odds of VTE history in residents of 6th floor or higher (OR 1.504; 95 % CI 1.007-2.247). Time at address did not modify any associations.
Conclusion: Floor level is positively associated with prevalence of CVD among inhabitants of Oslo. The disappearance of trends when we investigated block apartments separately may indicate residual confounding by building height and SES (income). The remaining association between floor level and VTE may point to an effect of floor level per se, although further residual confounding by income, building height and possibly psychosocial factors seems more plausible. The findings can hardly be taken in support of any of the earlier proposed mechanisms for an association between floor level and CVD, and indicate a need for more studies.
... намаляване на субективни симптоми като проблеми със съня, болка и стрес (Ghaly, Teplitz, 2004); -намаляване на общия стрес и напрежението (Chevalier, Mori, Oschman, 2006) и др. 67 П. Дънов още през 1930 г. посочва, че е добре човек от време на време да ходи бос, когато е сред природата, защото чрез краката влиза в непосредствен контакт със земята и между енергиите на земята и неговите става правилна обмяна (Учителя, 1939а, с.188) 68 , което принципно напълно се потвърждава от горепосочените научни изследвания. ...
Книгата съдържа информация, която очаквам да бъде интересна и полезна, както за интересуващите се от българската система от гимнастически музикални упражнения, наречена паневритмия, така и за широк кръг специалисти, работещи в областите на здравеопазването и образованието.
В първа глава са представени най-нови научни данни за: въздействието на физическата активност върху здравето, характеристиките на здравословната физическа активност и последните оповестени от световни здравни институции долни граници на необходимата за здравето двигателна активност. Направен е актуален научен обзор за влиянието на физическата активност (ФА) върху физическото и психичното здраве и качеството на живота при деца и юноши, зрели лица и при хора в напреднала възраст. Резюмирани са концепциите на П. Дънов за здравето и неговото възстановяване, както и поддържането чрез двигателна активност.
Във втора и четвърта глава е представена паневритмията с общо описание, кратък анализ на паневритмичния комплекс упражнения от гледна точка на кинезитерапията, обсъждане на ключовите концепции относно общите теоретични постановки за паневритмията и важните компоненти на нейното въздействие, както и история на паневритмията.
В трета глава от съвременна гледна точка са формулирани и са подкрепени с научни факти обяснителните механизми за влиянието на паневритмията върху физическото, психичното и социалното състояние на практикуващите я. Всички тези данни обогатяват както разбирането за паневритмията, така и за човека и неговото здраве.
Петата глава съдържа обзор на значимите научни изследвания на паневритмията, публикувани до излизането на настоящата книга.
В част от тази монография са представени резултатите от дисертационен труд, в който за първи път с голяма батерия от физически и психологически тестове е изследвано и установено психофизическото влияние на начално обучение по паневритмия при възрастни лица (Червенкова, 2012). Тази основа е надградена с нови големи раздели данни и анализи, както и с резултатите от първо, непубликувано до момента, експериментално изследване на промените в психофизическото състояние в резултат на един сезон (6 месеца) изпълнение на паневритмия при по-отдавна практикуващи. Шеста глава е посветена на методологията на тези две експериментални изследвания, обединени в едно по-голямо изследване.
В седма глава са представени резултатите, направен е анализ и са изведени изводи. На базата на наличната до момента научна литература за паневритмията и на представените в този труд собствени резултати, са формулирани перспективни насоки за приложение и изследване на паневритмията за подобряване на психофизическото състояние и съхраняване на здравето при три възрастови групи.
С цел по-голяма яснота за незапознатите с упражненията на паневритмията са добавени и снимки, които показват паневритмичните упражнения, като илюстрират крайните позиции на индивидуалните движения, изпълнявани от практикуващите.
... Natural materials can reflect the dynamic properties of organic matter through their adaptive response to time, allowing positive sensory responses [3]. In addition, contact between the human body and earth (e.g., through an earthen floor) is believed to improve hormonal regulation, sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress [24]. Lastly, earthen materials are pleasant to both eye and touch, providing a breathable and soft, yet sturdy mass building material. ...
The built environment must meet the highest demands of human habitation, resource management and community enrichment. To achieve these goals, modern built environments should adopt restorative environmental and biophilic design principles which seek to reconnect the human built environment with nature. In this paper, the biophilic aspects and environmental benefits of earthen construction are assessed and compared to conventional construction in order to demonstrate the tangible and intangible benefits of earthen materials. Specifically, the synergies between biophilic design attributes and earthen construction are elaborated, characterizing the ecological, health, and community collaboration advantages that earthen structures provide. Subsequently, the results of an environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of earthen building materials from cradle to gate enumerate the environmental preferability of earthen materials over conventional materials.
... Natural materials can reflect the dynamic properties of organic matter through their adaptive response to time, allowing positive sensory responses [3]. In addition, contact between the human body and earth (e.g., through an earthen floor) is believed to improve hormonal regulation, sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress [24]. Lastly, earthen materials are pleasant to both eye and touch, providing a breathable and soft, yet sturdy mass building material. ...
... Probably, it could be the reason for rising incidences of fatigue, stress, poor sleep, chronic pain and inflammation in our modern society. Current evidences propose that reconnecting the body to earth can restore ANS dysfunction [7,8,9,10,12,13,14], reduce inflammation, chronic pain, muscle stiffness [10], improve sleep, alleviate stress [11,14], regularize circadian secretion of cortisol [15] and blood viscosity [16]. ...
Background and Objective: Though many factors are involved in the regulation of arterial blood pressure (BP), autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role in acute, short-term control. Any imbalance in ANS activity leads to dysregulation of BP and increases the risk of prehypertension. Recently, a few studies have shown that when the body is connected to the earth's surface using conductive patches or wires, there will be an immediate correction of ANS dysfunction. Expecting similar results, the present study was designed to evaluate the short-term effects of direct barefoot contact with the earth, i.e. without using patches or wires, on prehypertension. Methods: After screening 150 participants, 53 prehypertensives were selected for the study. They were randomly assigned into a study group (n=28) and control group (n=25). Each participant from the study group remained barefooted; i.e. in contact with the ground, for a period of an hour, whereas the control group did not have ground contact. Blood pressure was recorded again at the end of one hour and compared. Data were analysed by paired and unpaired 't' test. A 'P' value less than 0.005 was considered significant. Results: There was a significant decrease in SBP (P<0.0001), DBP (P<0.0014) and MBP (P<0.0001) of study subjects after an hour of barefoot contact. However, there was no significant change in the control group. Conclusion: Our study results indicate that direct barefoot contact with the earth reduces blood pressure in prehypertensive individuals. Remaining barefoot, whenever possible, can be a simple, cost-effective and innovative method in preventing hypertension.
... 21,22 It has also been suggested that the free electrons present on the ground will travel up through the human body as electric current whenever an electrical pathway is established between the human body and ground 23,24 and it has been suggested that this current has a beneficial health effect. 25,26 Some of the above studies have successfully demonstrated the alteration of human body voltage due to grounding but have failed to detect this current. This study attempts to determine if this current exists by examining the electric potential difference between the normal foot stance distance on the ground, and whether this electric potential difference is sufficient to drive an electric current continuously through a human that is standing barefooted on it. ...
This paper explores the electrical nature of sandy beach and proposes a pathway for the therapeutic effects of beach going. The electric potential and current generated on the ground across the human body and resistors were measured. The ground was found to have a non-homogenous electric potential which generated a potential difference between any two points on the ground. A power curve, similar to a battery, in the nanowatt range was obtained. This power appeared to be stable across time but varies across ground location. Standing on the beach with dry feet did not allow any current in the micro-ampere range to conduct. But upon moistening the feet, the body electrical resistance was reduced by 94% and the ground potential difference across the two feet was sufficient to drive a micro-ampere range current through the body. This may be one reason for the therapeutic effects of being on the beach.
... Further, to analyze the result of cortisol changes, the level of diurnal cortisol secretion was measured and circadian cortisol were profiled. Results from the project indicate that the level of cortisol during sleep at night was reduced while the synchronization of cortisol hormone discharges was more in the arrangement with the normal 24-hour circadian rhythm profile [1]. ...
... However, when the body is conductively connected to electrical ground, this skin potential is dissipated [10] . Studies in adults found that electrical grounding (EG) produces an increase in VT [11,12] . ...
Background:
Low vagal tone (VT) is a marker of vulnerability to stress and the risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. Electric fields produced by equipment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) induce an electric potential measurable on the skin in reference to ground. An electrical connection to ground reduces the skin potential and improves VT in adults.
Objectives:
We aimed to measure the electric field strengths in the NICU environment and to determine if connecting an infant to electrical ground would reduce the skin potential and improve VT. We also wished to determine if the skin potential correlated with VT.
Methods:
Environmental magnetic flux density (MFD) was measured in and around incubators. Electrical grounding (EG) was achieved with a patch electrode and wire that extended to a ground outlet. We measured the skin potential in 26 infants and heart rate variability in 20 infants before, during, and after grounding. VT was represented by the high-frequency power of heart rate variability.
Results:
The background MFD in the NICU was below 0.5 mG, but it ranged between 1.5 and 12.7 mG in the closed incubator. A 60-Hz oscillating potential was recorded on the skin of all infants. With EG, the skin voltage dropped by about 95%. Pre-grounding VT was inversely correlated with the skin potential. VT increased by 67% with EG. After grounding, the VT fell to the pre-grounding level.
Conclusion:
The electrical environment affects autonomic balance. EG improves VT and may improve resilience to stress and lower the risk of neonatal morbidity in preterm infants.
... In addition to immediate negative effects, it can last for the rest of their life (5,24). One of the methods of investigating the degree of stress is measuring the body's cortisol levels; however, it should be noted that stress is not the only reason for secretion of cortisol into the blood stream, and other factors such as nutrition, sleep and sensory simulation can also affect its level (25)(26)(27). Nevertheless, since the secretion of cortisol is high during the reaction of the body to stress, and is also responsible for several stress-related changes in the body, it is known as the "stress hormone" (28), introduced in various studies as an indicator to determine the level of stress (29)(30)(31). ...
Background: Neonatal period is one of the most important critical phases of human life. Intensive care unit has a stressful environment for the infant in which the patient will be under the pressure of factors such as noise, nursing intervention and harsh light; the most important factor in this regard being separation from parents. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of skin-to-skin care by fathers on salivary cortisol of his infant. Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial on 45 premature infants paired by their fathers at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Tabriz Alzahra teaching hospital conducted during November 2015. The control group received standard care and the intervention group had 45 minutes of skin to skin care. Saliva samples were collected from infants before, during, and after this intervention to measure the cortisol level. The SPSS 13 statistical software was used to analyze the data with the significance level of P < 0.05. Results: Salivary cortisol in babies in the control group had a mean value of 66.36 (SD = 71.22) and intervention group a mean value of 59.56 (SD = 59.20) (P = 0.56). Conclusions: Both groups showed decreasing cortisol levels during the study, the reduction in the skin-to-skin care group was more than the control group, but with no significant difference. Thus, making it possible for fathers to take care of their infants in an effective, helpful and secure way.
... Chevalier et al. (2012) contend that direct contact with Earth's surface allows the body to absorb electrons, which may neutralize reactive oxygen species (free radicals), thereby reducing bodily inflammation. Chevalier and coauthors' preliminary evidence suggests that barefoot contact with Earth has clinical, medically therapeutic potential for improving sleep and reducing pain by normalizing the cortisol circadian profile (Ghaly & Teplitz, 2004;Oschman, 2007). ...
Indoor sunlight improves health in hospitals, schools, and workplaces, and there is clinical evidence for the impact on depression. But the impact of indoor sunlight on residents' health and well-being in domestic dwellings is unclear. Understanding this relationship could have important implications for building design and residents' indoor behavior, and impacts on health. Using a cross-sectional survey, we investigated the relationship between annual indoor sunlight opportunity and psychological well-being in 40 residents of high-rise dwellings in a socioeconomically deprived area in Glasgow, Scotland. Perceived physical health, physical activity, psychological distress, and indoor environmental factors were potential mediators of the relationship between annual sunlight opportunity and well-being. We used novel simulation modeling of window size, orientation, occlusion, and occupant behavior to measure annual sunlight opportunity. We found a significant positive association between well-being and annual indoor sunlight opportunity but no relationship between sunlight and objective indoor environmental variables, including air quality, bacteria, and fungi. Our sample had generally poor physical and mental health. Perceived physical health, lower psychological distress, more physical activity, and better perceived environmental quality were associated with greater psychological well-being. Perceived physical health mediated the impact of sunlight on well-being. Findings merit replication in larger and more diverse samples but have important implications for building design and advice to residents on window occlusion. Key Words: Architecture and design—Environmental psychology—Positive psychology.
... Such disruption can trigger multiple neuroinflammatory conditions manifested in the skin, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, contact dermatitis alopecia areata, itch or pruritus, and erythema [41] [42]. Along with better sleep, grounding at night has been demonstrated to bring aberrant cortisol oscillations more in line with the natural cortisol pattern [37]. It should also be noted that grounding appears to promote balance in the sympathetic-parasympathetic function of the ANS, and thus exerts another stress reduction effect [15] [25] [39]. ...
Earthing (grounding) refers to bringing the human body in direct contact with the negative electric charge of the earth’s surface by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special conductive indoor systems that are connected to the Earth. To determine if earthing improves facial blood circulation/flow, a double-blind study was designed with forty subjects either grounded or sham-grounded (27 grounded subjects and 13 sham-grounded subjects acting as controls) for at least one hour in a comfortable recliner chair equipped with conductive mat, pillow, and patches. The grounding systems were either grounded or sham-grounded via a wire to the ground port (third hole) of a power outlet. A Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging camera was used to continuously record changes in facial blood flow non-invasively. Facial blood flow regulation clearly improved among grounded— but not sham-grounded—subjects. The results demonstrate, for the first time, that even one-hour contact with the earth restores blood flow regulation to the face suggesting enhanced skin tissue repair and improved facial appearance with possible implications for overall health. Further studies, using larger comparison groups, longer monitoring times, and more measuring methods, are warranted in order to confirm the novel influence of the Earth as a protector of skin health and appearance.
Hypertension significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and seriously affects people’s health. The incidence of hypertension is rising rapidly in the world and hypertension has become a significant factor influencing the global average life expectancy. The diagnosis of hypertension is generally fulfilled by measuring diastolic and systolic blood pressure, but it is insufficient to differentiate essential hypertension from secondary hypertension, so it is crucial to identifying the cause of hypertension by detecting biomarkers in plasma. In clinical practice, five plasma biomarkers are utilized for diagnosing hypertension, and the detection tasks of a large number of cases have raised increasing demands for cost-effective, efficient, speedy, and diverse methods, which makes many traditional diagnostic technologies inadequate for meeting the needs of clinical diagnosis. The nanomaterial-based detection techniques have frequently attained the qualities of quick reaction, low cost, straightforward operation, high sensitivity, and strong specificity in recent years with the advancement of nanotechnology, so they have great potential for early and rapid diagnosis. In this review, we will introduce the characteristics and drawbacks of current clinical detection methods for hypertension screening, the principles and advancements of nanotechnology-based detection methods, as well as their potentials for clinical application.
An ever expanding body of research over the past several decades suggest that directly touching the earth, a practice known as grounding, puts the body into a healing state. The natural universe conducts an energy current known as a Direct Current (DC). This DC circuit of energy flows through everything on our planet, including plants, animals, human beings, and the surface of our entire globe, creating a Global Electrical Circuit. DC energy is also what the living human body uses to function, as everything from the beating of our heart to the movement of our muscles to our brain’s ability to think operates using DC energy. The earth’s DC energy flows continuously across the earth’s crust, and anything conductive that touches the earth becomes part of this natural circuit. Our human bodies, which are highly conductive, join this Global Electrical Circuit whenever we make direct contact with the earth, a practice known as grounding. Medical studies are revealing that by becoming a part of the global electrical circuit, through grounding, the human body enters a profound healing state. As our understanding of the health benefits of grounding continue to deepen, we can begin to use grounding as an intentional healing tool in clinical medicine. Grounding may play a role in not only improving the body’s natural ability to function, but may also play a role in the healing of disease and the prevention of disease development in the first place. Studies so far suggest that becoming a part of the earth’s global DC circuit enhances our conductive health, which has far reaching implications to all our organ systems that utilize DC energy and conductivity to work, including but not limited to: our central and peripheral nervous system, our musculoskeletal system, and our cardiovascular system. Further research into the healing properties of grounding will help clinicians tailor suggestions for specific health issues, and will help us understand the role of our body’s conductivity in the presence of our Global Electrical Circuit.
For decades, the main question immunologists have asked about autoimmunity is “what causes a break in self-tolerance?” We have not found good answers to that question, and I believe we are still so ignorant because it’s the wrong question. Rather than a break in self-tolerance, I suggest that many autoimmune diseases might be due to defects in normal tissue physiology.
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity is categorised as a multisymptomatic 'el-allergy' in the Nordic classification of 2000 (R.68.8). Its symptoms are 'certainly real' and it can be a 'disabling condition' (W.H.O., 2005). It was first recorded in the mid 20th century as an occupational illness, but it has now spread into the general population through environmental exposure from increasing levels of electromagnetic fields and radiation.
This Summary covers current research on this syndrome, covering EM Sensitivity and EM Hypersensitivity. It includes tables of symptoms, EMF sources and exposure guidelines, along with references to scientific studies.
This New Edition adds updates, international doctors' protocols, aspects of quantum biology, evidence for sensitivity in animals and plants, case studies, disability issues and human rights.
Covid is an inflammatory respiratory virus, so if you have
any of the so-called pre-disposing conditions (asthma, COPD,
high blood pressure, heart or lung conditions, weakened
immune system, diabetes, sleep apnea or hypertension)
as reported by the Mayo Clinic [4] we suggest that you try
Earthing. And the disease has several challenging lingering
after-effects, including endocrine disruption [5]. On July 24,
the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported
that Covid-19 can be a prolonged illness, even among young
adults without underlying chronic medical conditions. Note
that the same pre-disposing conditions mentioned above are
also frequent severe after-effects that can follow recovery from
the virus. The only wellness “claim” for Earthing is that you
are likely be pleasantly surprised when you try it.
Earthing (also known as grounding) refers to the discovery that bodily contact with the Earth's natural electric charge stabilizes the physiology at the deepest levels, reduces inflammation, pain, and stress, improves blood flow, energy, and sleep, and generates greater well-being. Such effects are profound, systemic, and foundational, and often develop rapidly. Earthing is as simple as routinely walking barefoot outdoors and/or using inexpensive grounding systems indoors while sleeping or sitting, practices that restore a lost and needed electric connection with the Earth. Some 20 studies to date have reported intriguing evidence of wide and significant physiological improvements when the body is grounded vs. non-grounded. The research, along with numerous anecdotal reports, demonstrates that Earthing clearly deserves inclusion in the clinical practice of preventive, alternative, and lifestyle medicine and has great potential to render these approaches more effective.
Bio-integrated wearable systems can measure a broad range of biophysical, biochemical, and environmental signals to provide critical insights into overall health status and to quantify human performance. Recent advances in material science, chemical analysis techniques, device designs, and assembly methods form the foundations for a uniquely differentiated type of wearable technology, characterized by noninvasive, intimate integration with the soft, curved, time-dynamic surfaces of the body. This review summarizes the latest advances in this emerging field of "bio-integrated" technologies in a comprehensive manner that connects fundamental developments in chemistry, material science, and engineering with sensing technologies that have the potential for widespread deployment and societal benefit in human health care. An introduction to the chemistries and materials for the active components of these systems contextualizes essential design considerations for sensors and associated platforms that appear in following sections. The subsequent content highlights the most advanced biosensors, classified according to their ability to capture biophysical, biochemical, and environmental information. Additional sections feature schemes for electrically powering these sensors and strategies for achieving fully integrated, wireless systems. The review concludes with an overview of key remaining challenges and a summary of opportunities where advances in materials chemistry will be critically important for continued progress.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition influenced by both genetic and
environmental factors. Dirty electricity generated by electronic equipment is one of the
environmental factors that may directly or indirectly impact MS susceptibility.. The current
Study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the usage time of electronic equipment and susceptibility to MS in North-West Iranian people.This approach was carried out upon 471 MSdiagnosed patients and 453 healthy participants as control group in East Province of Azerbaijan.By utilizing structured questionnaires, the information of all participants about usage status of some electronic devices was obtained. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics version 18.0 and the quantitative variables were analyzed by Chi-Square and Independent sample T-Tests. P values below or equal to 0.05 were considered as significant. Among the evaluated items in this approach, the utilization of cell phones and satellite television dishes were significantly higher in MS patients (p < 0.001, p = 0.07).
Furthermore, a correlation was observed between sleeping with cell phone and/or laptop under the pillow (p = 0.011) and MS disease; however, there was no significant differences between MS patients and controls in computer using and television watching. Our study reinforces the concept that the utilization of some electronic devices and the continuous exposure to dirty electricity would increase the risk of MS disease thereupon by enhancing the cognizance of adverse effects of dirty electricity and reducing the time spent over electronic devices during adolescence and adulthood the occurrence probability of MS could be declined.
In the article, the author discusses the issue of chronic, low-grade acidosis that is thought to be brought about primarily by 2 factors: (1) advancing age, with a consequent decline in renal function; and (2) diet. An acid-forming diet can induce low-grade metabolic acidosis, which causes very small decreases in blood pH and plasma bicarbonate (HCO3-) that remain within the range considered to be normal. However, if the duration of the acidosis is prolonged or chronically present, even a low degree of acidosis can become significant. This article reviews supporting evidence in the literature that has shown that consumption of abundant alkaline-forming foods can result in improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle mass, protection from chronic illnesses, reduced tumor-cell invasion and metastasis, and effective excretion of toxins from the body. In addition, a large number of studies showing the benefits of alkaline water (mineral water) have revealed that people consuming water with a high level of total dissolved solids (TDS) (ie, with a high mineral content) have shown a lower incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer and lower total mortality rates. Consumption of alkaline water also may prevent osteoporosis and protect pancreatic beta cells with its antioxidant effects. In addition, this article discusses the literature that shows that reducing digestive-tract bacterial load can play an important role in increasing blood alkalinity toward the normal upper limit. That change occurs through good oral hygiene, flossing of teeth, perfect chewing of food, and bowel evacuation as soon as possible. Finally, the author reviews the literature that shows that earthing (ie, the direct contact of the human body with the earth) can supply a current of plentiful electrons. Earthing has been shown to reduce acute and chronic inflammation, blood glucose in patients with diabetes, red blood cell (RBC) aggregation, and blood coagulation. It also has been shown to produce symptomatic improvement in chronic, muscle and joint pain, a reduction in overall stress levels and tensions, a boost in positive moods, an improvement in heart rate variability, and an improvement in the immune response.
Objective:
Aerobic exercise with blood flow restriction (aBFR) has been proposed as an adjunctive modality in numerous populations, potentially via an enhanced growth factor response. However, the effects of aBFR on highly trained warfighters have yet to be examined. The purpose of this study was to determine if adjunctive aBFR as part of a regular physical training regimen would increase markers of aerobic fitness and muscle strength in elite warfighters. In addition, we sought to determine whether the changes in blood lactate concentration induced by aBFR would be associated with alterations in the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis.
Design:
Active-duty US Naval Special Warfare Operators (n=18, age=36.8 ± 2.2 years, weight=89.1 ± 1.2 kg, height=181.5 ± 1.4 cm) from Naval Amphibious Base Coronado were recruited to participate in 20 days of adjunctive aBFR training. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), ventilatory threshold (VT), and 1-repetition max (1-RM) bench press and squat were assessed pre- and post-aBFR training. Blood lactate and plasma IGF-1 and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were assessed pre-, 2 min post-, and 30 min post-aBFR on days 1, 9, and 20 of aBFR training.
Results:
Following aBFR training there were no changes in VO2 peak or VT, but there was an increase in the 1-RM for the bench press and the squat (5.0 and 3.9%, respectively, P<0.05). Blood lactate concentration at the 2-min post-exercise time point was 4.5-7.2-fold higher than pre-exercise levels on all days (P<0.001). At the 30-min post-exercise time point, blood lactate was still 1.6-2.6-fold higher than pre-exercise levels (P<0.001), but had decreased by 49-56% from the 2-min post-exercise time point (P<0.001). Plasma IGF-1 concentrations did not change over the course of the study. On day 9, plasma IGFBP-3 concentration was 4-22% lower than on day 1 (P<0.01) and 22% lower on day 9 than on day 20 at the 30-min post-exercise time point (P<0.001).
Conclusions:
Our data suggest that aBFR training does not lead to practical strength adaptations or alterations in the IGF axis in a population of highly trained warfighters.
Multi-disciplinary research has revealed that electrically conductive contact of the human body with the surface of the Earth (grounding or earthing) produces intriguing effects on physiology and health. Such effects relate to inflammation, immune responses, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this report is two-fold: to 1) inform researchers about what appears to be a new perspective to the study of inflammation, and 2) alert researchers that the length of time and degree (resistance to ground) of grounding of experimental animals is an important but usually overlooked factor that can influence outcomes of studies of inflammation, wound healing, and tumorigenesis. Specifically, grounding an organism produces measurable differences in the concentrations of white blood cells, cytokines, and other molecules involved in the inflammatory response. We present several hypotheses to explain observed effects, based on current research results and our understanding of the electronic aspects of cell and tissue physiology, cell biology, biophysics, and biochemistry. An experimental injury to muscles, known as delayed onset muscle soreness, has been used to monitor the immune response under grounded versus ungrounded conditions. Grounding reduces pain and alters the numbers of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes, and also affects various circulating chemical factors related to inflammation.
The purpose of this study was to examine whether acute relaxation training, conducted on two separate occasions, would be associated with reliable reduction in subjective and physiological indices of stress. Forty-six experimental subjects were led through Abbreviated Progressive Relaxation Training (APRT) exercises during two laboratory sessions spaced exactly 1 week apart. Fifteen control subjects experienced two laboratory sessions where they sat quietly for an equal amount of time. Results indicated that a brief relaxation exercise led to experimental subjects having significantly lower levels of post-intervention heart rate, state anxiety, perceived stress, and salivary cortisol than control subjects, as well as increased levels of self-report levels of relaxation. The results of this study may have implications for the use of relaxation training in enhancing immune function.
The influence of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields emitted from a circularly polarized antenna on the neuroendocrine system in healthy humans was investigated (900 MHz electromagnetic field, pulsed with 217 Hz, average power density 0.02 mW/cm2). Nocturnal hormone profiles of growth hormone (GH), cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH) and melatonin were determined under polysomnographic control. An alteration in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis activity was found with a slight, transient elevation in the cortisol serum level immediately after onset of field exposure which persisted for 1 h. For GH, LH and melatonin, no significant effects were found under exposure to the field compared to the placebo condition, regarding both total hormone production during the entire night and dynamic characteristics of the secretion pattern. Also the evaluation of the sleep EEG data revealed no significant alterations under field exposure, although there was a trend to an REM suppressive effect. The results indicate that weak high-frequency electromagnetic fields have no effects on nocturnal hormone secretion except for a slight elevation in cortisol production which is transient, pointing to an adaptation of the organism to the stimulus.
Electromagnetic fields have been suggested to contribute to the risk of depression by causing pineal dysfunction. Some epidemiologic studies have supported this possibility but have generally reported crude methods of exposure assessment and nonsystematic evaluation of depression. Using two available nationwide data sets, the authors identified from the Finnish Twin Cohort Study 12,063 persons who had answered the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory of self-rated depressive symptoms in 1990. The personal 20-year histories of exposure (i.e., distance and calculated annual average magnetic fields) before 1990 to overhead 110- to 400-kv power lines were obtained from the Finnish Transmission Line Cohort Study. The adjusted mean Beck Depression Inventory scores did not differ by exposure, providing some assurance that proximity to high-voltage transmission lines is not associated with changes within the common range of depressive symptoms. However, the risk of severe depression was increased 4.7-fold (95% confidence interval 1.70–13.3) among subjects living within 100 m of a high-voltage power line. This finding was based on small numbers. The authors recommend that attempts be made to strive for a better understanding of the exposure characteristics in relation to the onset and course of depression. Am J Epidemiol 1997;146:1037–45.
Laboratory studies have shown that electromagnetic fields similar to those from high-voltage transmission lines can produce biological effects. Surveys of the actual effects of such lines on exposed individuals usually have been hampered by complicating factors tending to blur the data. By means of a new approach, however, correlation has been established between the presence of transmission-line fields and the occurrence of suicides in part of the Midlands of England.
We studied the relationship between power-frequency magnetic fields and locations of suicidal deaths in 1969-76 in the West Midlands, England. We found a significant correlation between suicide locations and the measured power-frequency magnetic field strength. Significantly more suicides occurred at locations of high magnetic field strength. (C)1981Health Physics Society
This case cohort study examines whether there is an association between exposure to electric and magnetic fields and suicide in a population of 21,744 male electrical utility workers from the Canadian Province of Québec.
49 deaths from suicide were identified between 1970 and 1988 and a subcohort was selected comprising a 1% random sample from this cohort as a basis for risk estimation. Cumulative and current exposures to electric fields, magnetic fields, and pulsed electromagnetic fields (as recorded by the POSITRON meter) were estimated for the subcohort and cases through a job exposure matrix. Two versions of each of these six indices were calculated, one based on the arithmetic mean (AM), and one on the geometric mean (GM) of field strengths.
For cumulative exposure, rate ratios (RR) for all three fields showed mostly small non-significant increases in the medium and high exposure groups. The most increased risk was found in the medium exposure group for the GM of the electric field (RR = 2.76, 95% CI 1.15-6.62). The results did not differ after adjustment for socioeconomic state, alcohol use, marital state, and mental disorders. There was a little evidence for an association of risk with exposure immediately before the suicide.
Some evidence for an association between suicide and cumulative exposure to the GM of the electric fields was found. This specific index was not initially identified as the most relevant index, but rather emerged afterwards as showing the most positive association with suicide among the 10 indices studied. Thus the evidence from this study for a causal association between exposure to electric fields and suicide is weak. Small sample size (deaths from suicide) and inability to control for all potential confounding factors were the main limitations of this study.
This retrospective case-control study of 56 cases and 56 controls measured extra low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields between 2000 h and 0800 h in the bedplaces of children with leukaemia. Mean ELF electric field (E-field) levels found in case homes of 13.9 Vm-1 (SD: 13.6) were significantly higher (P < 0.01) compared with only 7.3 Vm-1 (SD: 12.9) in controls matched for age and sex. Moreover, applying conditional logistic regression, a dose-response relationship emerged between E-field exposure and incidence: above 20 Vm-1 the relative risk was 4.69 (95% CI: 1.17-27.78; P = 0.025), whereas at levels of 10-19 Vm-1 it was 2.40 (95% CI: 0.79-8.09) and at levels of 5-9 Vm-1 it was only 1.46 (95% CI: 0.47-5.10). By contrast, similar readings of the rms ELF magnetic field found no significant case-control differences: mean levels in cases' homes of 0.070 microT (SD: 0.070) compared with 0.057 microT (SD: 0.038) in controls. Although there were imperfections in the study design, it is concluded that the importance of the E-field may have been overlooked in epidemiological studies to date.
Above-average exposure to electromagnetic fields has been associated with certain nonmalignant medical conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, other neurologic diseases, depressive symptoms, and suicide. The authors conducted a nationwide mortality study in Denmark of 21,236 men employed in utility companies between 1900 and 1993. The causes of death were ascertained for January 1, 1974, through December 31, 1993, and cause-specific mortality was analyzed by latency and estimated levels of exposure to 50-Hz electromagnetic fields. Overall, 3,540 deaths were observed as compared with 3,709 expected from national mortality rates, yielding a standardized mortality ratio of 0.96 (95% confidence interval 0.93-0.99). A slight excess in mortality from cancer was due to deaths from cancers of the lung and pleural cavity, probably because of exposure to asbestos. A twofold increase in mortality from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and a tenfold increase in mortality from electrical accidents were seen on the basis of 14 and 10 deaths, respectively, the former increasing with time since first employment in a utility company. The excess mortality from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis seems to be associated with above-average levels of exposure to electromagnetic fields and may be due to repeated episodes with electric shocks.
The influence of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields emitted by digital mobile radio telephones on heart rate during sleep in healthy humans was investigated. Beside mean RR interval and total variability of RR intervals based on calculation of the standard deviation, heart rate variability was assessed in the frequency domain by spectral power analysis providing information about the balance between the two branches of the autonomic nervous system. For most parameters, significant differences between different sleep stages were found. In particular, slow-wave sleep was characterized by a low ratio of low- and high-frequency components, indicating a predominance of the parasympathetic over the sympathetic tone. In contrast, during REM sleep the autonomic balance was shifted in favor of the sympathetic activity. For all heart rate parameters, no significant effects were detected under exposure to the field compared to placebo condition. Thus, under the given experimental conditions, autonomic control of heart rate was not affected by weak-pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields.
In view of reports of health problems induced by low frequency (50-60 Hz) electromagnetic fields (EMF), we carried out a study in 18 healthy subjects, comparing sleep with and without exposure to a 50 Hz/1 mu Tesla electrical field. We found that the EMF condition was associated with reduced: total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, stages 3 + 4 slow wave sleep (SWS), and slow wave activity (SWA). Circulating melatonin, growth hormone, prolactin, testosterone or cortisol were not affected. The results suggest that commonly occurring low frequency electromagnetic fields may interfere with sleep.
To examine mortality from suicide in relation to estimated exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields in a cohort of 138,905 male electric utility workers.
Case-control sampling, which included 536 deaths from suicide and 5, 348 eligible controls. Exposure was classified based on work in the most common jobs with increased exposure to magnetic fields and indices of cumulative exposure to magnetic fields based on a measurement survey.
Suicide mortality was increased relative to work in exposed jobs and with indices of exposure to magnetic fields. Increased odds ratios (ORs) were found for years of employment as an electrician (OR, 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-3.80) or line worker (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.18-2.14), whereas a decreased OR was found for power plant operators (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.33-1.40). A dose-response gradient with exposure to magnetic fields was found for exposure in the previous year, with a mortality OR of 1.70 (95% CI, 1.00-2.90) in the highest exposure category. Stronger associations, with ORs in the range of 2.12 to 3.62, were found for men younger than 50 years.
These data provide evidence for an association between occupational electromagnetic fields and suicide that warrants further evaluation. A plausible mechanism related to melatonin and depression provides a direction for additional laboratory research and epidemiologic evaluation.
To investigate relationships between residential exposure to power frequency magnetic field and sleep initiation and maintenance disorders (SIAMD).
A cross-sectional design conducted in an urban town of northern Taiwan in 1995-1996.
A total of 5,078 married women aged 20-59.
N/A.
The residential magnetic field intensity was assessed using EMDEX II dosimeters. Trained interviewees collected self-reported information on SIAMD and other covariates. Three type-specific SIAMD were analyzed for associations with background, bedroom, and overall residential exposures.
The prevalence rates of difficulty initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), and early morning awakening (EMA) were 29.5%, 38.17%, and 26.02%, respectively. The DIS prevalence was significantly associated with bedroom magnetic field exposure of 2 miliGauss (mG) (odds ratio (OR)=1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.02-1.40). The DMS prevalence was significantly higher for women with background exposure of 2 mG (OR=1.28, 95% CI=1.04-1.56). An elevated EMA prevalence was also significantly associated with all of the three exposure measures with excess risks ranging from 28% for overall exposure to 65% for background exposure. When magnetic field strength was analyzed as a continuous variable, background exposure, but not overall or bedroom exposure, showed a small but significant association with DMS and EMA (OR=1.05 per 1 mG increase, 95% CI=1.02-1.09).
There is a modest association between residential exposures to elevated magnetic field intensity and insomnia complaints in women.
Usage of mobile phones is rapidly increasing, but there is limited data on the possible effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on brain physiology. We investigated the effect of EMF vs. sham control exposure on waking regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and on waking and sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) in humans. In Experiment 1, positron emission tomography (PET) scans were taken after unilateral head exposure to 30-min pulse-modulated 900 MHz electromagnetic field (pm-EMF). In Experiment 2, night-time sleep was polysomnographically recorded after EMF exposure. Pulse-modulated EMF exposure increased relative rCBF in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex ipsilateral to exposure. Also, pm-EMF exposure enhanced EEG power in the alpha frequency range prior to sleep onset and in the spindle frequency range during stage 2 sleep. Exposure to EMF without pulse modulation did not enhance power in the waking or sleep EEG. We previously observed EMF effects on the sleep EEG (A. A. Borbély, R. Huber, T. Graf, B. Fuchs, E. Gallmann and P. Achermann. Neurosci. Lett., 1999, 275: 207-210; R. Huber, T. Graf, K. A. Cote, L. Wittmann, E. Gallmann, D. Matter, J. Schuderer, N. Kuster, A. A. Borbély, and P. Achermann. Neuroreport, 2000, 11: 3321-3325), but the basis for these effects was unknown. The present results show for the first time that (1) pm-EMF alters waking rCBF and (2) pulse modulation of EMF is necessary to induce waking and sleep EEG changes. Pulse-modulated EMF exposure may provide a new, non-invasive method for modifying brain function for experimental, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
The relationship between the temporal organization of cortisol secretion and sleep structure is controversial. To determine whether the cortisol profile is modified by 4 hours of sleep deprivation, which shifts slow-wave sleep (SWS) episodes, 12 normal men were studied during a reference night, a sleep deprivation night and a recovery night. Plasma cortisol was measured in 10-minute blood samples. Analysis of the nocturnal cortisol profiles and the concomitant patterns of sleep stage distribution indicates that the cortisol profile is not influenced by sleep deprivation. Neither the starting time of the cortisol increase nor the mean number and amplitude of pulses was significantly different between the three nights. SWS episodes were significantly associated with declining plasma cortisol levels (p less than 0.01). This was especially revealed after sleep deprivation, as SWS episodes were particularly present during the second half of the night, a period of enhanced cortisol secretion. In 73% of cases, rapid eye movement sleep phases started when cortisol was reflecting diminished adrenocortical activity. Cortisol increases were not concomitant with a specific sleep stage but generally accompanied prolonged waking periods. These findings tend to imply that cortisol-releasing mechanisms may be involved in the regulation of sleep.
Melatonin is a major endocrine product of the pineal gland. It is produced at night when noradrenaline acts on beta-adrenergic receptors to stimulate enzymes which catalyse the formation of melatonin from serotonin. It is believed by some that nocturnal melatonin levels reflect beta-receptor function. The melatonin rhythm is also thought to be an indication of circadian rhythmicity. The nocturnal production of melatonin was studied in patients with depression and panic disorder and in control subjects. Midnight concentrations of melatonin in eleven depressed patients were significantly lower than 18 control subjects (27.1 +/- 5.1 pg/ml compared with 51.6 +/- 4.1 pg/ml; p less than 0.02, t-test). These data support previous reports of reduced melatonin synthesis in depressive illness. In the first report of patients with panic disorders, significantly lower midnight levels of melatonin were found compared with controls (28.4 +/- 6.4 pg/ml versus 51.6 +/- 4.1 pg/ml, p less than 0.02, t-test). In subsequent investigations this finding was confirmed, measuring melatonin levels over the initial phase of synthesis (i.e. 20h00 to 24h00). In these samples the melatonin rhythm also seemed to be delayed. These findings are discussed in terms of beta-receptor function and circadian rhythm alterations in affective disorders.
Surveys were made to determine whether susceptibility to depressive illness and to myocardial infarction of people living in Wolverhampton was related to the intensity of 50 Hz magnetic field outside their homes. Comparing case with control addresses it was found that the field strength was significantly higher for depressive illness (P = 0.033) but not for myocardial infarction.
The 24-h profile of plasma ACTH and cortisol levels was determined in 18 men suffering from major depressive illness (8 with unipolar depression and 10 with bipolar depression) as well as in 7 age-matched normal men. Blood was sampled every 15 min. The circadian variation and episodic fluctuations were analyzed for each individual profile. Both unipolar and bipolar depressed patients had higher 24-h mean cortisol levels (P less than 0.01) than normal men, but no significant difference in 24-h mean ACTH level was found. The nadir of cortisol secretion occurred almost 3 h earlier in older normal subjects and patients with unipolar depression, regardless of age, than in younger normal subjects. This shift paralleled a similar advance of the ACTH nadir. Early timing of the quiescent period of ACTH-cortisol secretion was also found in several patients with bipolar depression, but did not reach significance at the group level. The hypercortisolism in the depressed patients was associated with an increase in the magnitude, but not the number, of cortisol secretory episodes. About 90% of the cortisol pulses could be related to a concomitant ACTH pulse in normal subjects as well as in both groups of depressed patients. However, concomitant ACTH and cortisol pulses were less correlated in magnitude in depressed patients than in normal subjects. These results indicate that major depressive illness is associated with disturbances of pituitary-adrenal function. The early timing of the nadir of ACTH-cortisol secretion suggests that disorders of circadian time keeping may characterize major endogenous depression.
Exposure to extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electric or magnetic fields has been postulated as a potentially contributing factor in depression. Epidemiologic studies have yielded positive correlations between magnetic- and/or electric-field strengths in local environments and the incidence of depression-related suicide. Chronic exposure to ELF electric or magnetic fields can disrupt normal circadian rhythms in rat pineal serotonin-N-acetyltransferase activity as well as in serotonin and melatonin concentrations. Such disruptions in the circadian rhythmicity of pineal melatonin secretion have been associated with certain depressive disorders in human beings. In the rat, ELF fields may interfere with tonic aspects of neuronal input to the pineal gland, giving rise to what may be termed "functional pinealectomy." If long-term exposure to ELF fields causes pineal dysfunction in human beings as it does in the rat, such dysfunction may contribute to the onset of depression or may exacerbate existing depressive disorders.
The authors measured serum samples of melatonin at 11:00 p.m. in 28 patients suffering from major depression. Melatonin secretion was inversely correlated with the depressed mood and reality disturbance factors of the Hamilton Depression Scale. These results are consistent with previous reports of low melatonin syndrome in a subgroup of depressed patients.
In the present study the effects of artificial magnetic fields on pineal serotonin-N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity and melatonin content in male Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated to study the secretory activity of the pineal gland. Experimental inversion of the horizontal component of the natural magnetic field, performed at night-time, led to a significant decrease of both parameters investigated. During day-time, this effect was less conspicuous. During night-time, inversion of the horizontal component is followed by a reduced pineal secretory activity for about 2 h. After 24 h exposure to the inverted horizontal component, return to the natural condition was followed by a renewed clear depression of pineal NAT activity and melatonin content, indicating that the main stimulus is not the inverted magnetic field itself but rather its change. Changing the inclination of the local magnetic field from 63 degrees to 58 degrees, 68 degrees or 78 degrees, respectively also decreased the secretory activity of the rat pineal gland.
Although magnetic fields can influence biological systems, including those of man and other vertebrates, no central nervous structure has been identified that might be involved in their detection. From a theoretical point of view, the pineal organ might be such a structure for the following reasons: (1) It is involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms and is thus essential for migratory restlessness ('Zugunruhe'). Orientation at that time can be altered by an artificial magnetic field (MF) with a direction differing by 90 degrees from that of the Earth. Circadian rhythms can be inhibited from phase shifting by compensation of the Earth's MF and can be influenced by an artificial MF. (2) The pineal organ is strongly dependent on its sympathetic innervation and the sympatho-adrenergic system as a whole is sensitive to magnetic stimuli. (3) The pineal organ is a light-sensitive time-keeping organ and could form part of a combined compass--solar-clock system, which has been postulated for maintaining orientation in birds. We have therefore investigated the effect of a MF on electrophysiological activity of the guinea pig pineal organ, which is a useful system for such studies on individual cells. We report here that activity was depressed by an induced MF and restored when the MF was inverted.
To address the possible association between electric and magnetic field exposure and depression, we analyzed data from the Vietnam Experience Study. In order to compare the risk of diagnosed depression, depressive symptoms, and elevations in personality scales indicative of depression, we classified employed participants as electrical workers (N = 183) and nonelectrical workers (N = 3,861) and compared their scores on the Diagnostic Interview Survey (DIS) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Electrical workers in the aggregate showed little evidence of increased risk, with the possible exception of an increase in elevated MMPI depression scores among short-term workers. Data on electricians yielded indications of increased risk for several markers of depression. Despite the limited number of electrical workers, uncertainty regarding exposure, and our inability to address other workplace exposures, these results suggest that electrical workers in general are not at increased risk for depression. However, our results encourage further evaluation of depression among electricians.
The hypothesis that geomagnetic storms may partly account for the seasonal variation in the incidence of depression, by acting as a precipitant of depressive illness in susceptible individuals, is supported by a statistically significant 36.2% increase in male hospital admissions with a diagnosis of depressed phase, manic-depressive illness in the second week following such storms compared with geomagnetically quiet control periods. There is a smaller but not statistically significant increase in female psychotic depression and non-psychotic depression admissions following storms. There was no correlation between geomagnetic storm levels and number of male admissions with psychotic depression, which is consistent with a threshold event affecting predisposed individuals. Phase advance in pineal circadian rhythms of melatonin synthesis may be a possible mechanism of causation or be present as a consequence of 5-hydroxytryptamine and adrenergic system dysfunction associated with geomagnetic disturbance. Effects on cell membrane permeability, calcium channel activity and retinal magneto-receptors are suggested as possible underlying biochemical mechanisms.
A number of epidemiologic studies indicate an association between depression and proximity to high-voltage transmission lines. These studies have been criticized, however, for using surrogate measures of electromagnetic fields and unstandardized measures of depression. In an effort to overcome these limitations, the authors administered the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) in 1992 to 152 women in Orange County, California, who lived either adjacent to a transmission line or one block away. The results indicated that the average magnetic field level is 4.86 mG at the front door of homes adjacent to transmission lines and 0.68 mG at the front door of homes one block away. There was no significant difference in CES-D scores between the groups when demographic variables were controlled for. The homogeneity of the study population may limit the generalizability of findings.
Electric power transmission lines have become objects of public controversy. Hypotheses have linked neurobehavioral effects to the electric and magnetic fields that these lines produce. The authors conducted a telephone interview survey in November 1987 to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and headache in relation to proximity of residence to an alternating-current transmission line in the United States. Proximity to the line, defined as residing on a property abutting the right-of-way or being able to see the towers from one's house or yard, was positively associated with a measure of depressive symptoms. The association was not explained by demographic variables associated with depression or by attitudes about power lines or other environmental issues. The estimated prevalence odds ratio was 2.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-5.1). The estimate did not change appreciably when the definitions of depressive symptoms or of proximity to the line were altered. Nonmigraine headaches had a weaker association with proximity to the line (odds ratio = 1.5, 95% CI 0.76-2.8), and self-reported migraine headaches exhibited no association (odds ratio = 0.99, 95% CI 0.29-3.4). Additional studies of psychological and behavioral measures should be conducted in relation to electric and magnetic fields, with a strong emphasis on improved exposure assessment.
In the present study we investigated the influence of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields of digital mobile radio telephones on sleep in healthy humans. Besides a hypnotic effect with shortening of sleep onset latency, a REM suppressive effect with reduction of duration and percentage of REM sleep was found. Moreover, spectral analysis revealed qualitative alterations of the EEG signal during REM sleep with an increased spectral power density. Knowing the relevance of REM sleep for adequate information processing in the brain, especially concerning mnestic functions and learning processes, the results emphasize the necessity to carry out further investigations on the interaction of this type of electromagnetic fields and the human organism.
Rats were trained in ten daily sessions to perform in a 12-arm radial maze, which is a behavioral test for spatial memory functions. Exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field (45 min, 0.75 mT) immediately before each training session retarded learning significantly. Pretreatment with the cholinergic agonist physostigmine before magnetic field exposure reversed the field's effect on spatial learning. Data from this experiment indicate that magnetic field-induced spatial learning deficit is caused by the effect of the field on cholinergic systems.
The validity of several published investigations of the possibility that residential exposures to 50 Hz or 60 Hz electromagnetic fields might cause adverse psychological effects, such as suicide and depression, may have been limited by inadequate controlling for confounders or inadequate measurement of exposures. We investigated the relationships between magnetic field exposure and psychological and mental health variables while controlling for potential confounders and careful characterising individual magnetic field exposures. Five-hundred-and-forty adults living near transmission lines completed neuropsychological tests in major domains of memory and attentional functioning, mental health rating scales and other questionnaires. Magnetic field measurements were taken in each room occupied for at least one hour per day to provide an estimate of total-time-integrated exposure. The data were subjected to joint multivariate multiple regression analysis to test for a linear relation between field exposure and dependent variables, while controlling for effects of possible confounders. Performance on most memory and attention measures was unrelated to exposure, but significant linear dose-response relationships were found between exposure and some psychological and mental health variables. In particular, higher time-integrated exposure was associated with poorer coding-test performance and more adverse psychiatric symptomatology. These associations were found to be independent of participants' beliefs about effects of electromagnetic fields.
Rats were trained in six sessions to locate a submerged platform in a circular water-maze. They were exposed to a 1 mT, 60 Hz magnetic field for one hour in a Helmholtz coil system immediately before each training session. In addition, one hour after the last training session, they were tested in a probe trial during which the platform was removed and the time spent in the quadrant of the maze in which the platform was located during the training sessions was scored. Control animals were sham-exposed using the exposure system operating with the coils activated in an anti-parallel direction to cancel the fields. A group of "non-exposed" control animals was also included in the study. There was no significant difference between the magnetic field-exposed and control animals in learning to locate the platform. However, swim speed of the magnetic field-exposed rats was significantly slower than that of the controls. During the probe trial, magnetic field-exposed animals spent significantly less time in the quadrant that contained the platform, and their swim patterns were different from those of the controls. These results indicate that magnetic field exposure causes a deficit in spatial "reference" memory in the rat. Rats subjected to magnetic field exposure probably used a different behavioral strategy in learning the maze.
In previous research, we have found that acute exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field decreased cholinergic activity in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the rat as measured by sodium-dependent high-affinity choline uptake activity. We concluded that the effect was mediated by endogenous opioids inside the brain because it could be blocked by pretreatment of rats before magnetic field exposure with the opiate antagonist naltrexone, but not by the peripheral antagonist naloxone methiodide. In the present study, the involvement of opiate receptor subtypes was investigated. Rats were pretreated by intracerebroventricular injection of the mu-opiate receptor antagonist, beta-funaltrexamine, or the delta-opiate receptor antagonist, naltrindole, before exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field (2 mT, 1 hour). It was found that the effects of magnetic field on high-affinity choline uptake in the frontal cortex and hippocampus were blocked by the drug treatments. These data indicate that both mu- and delta-opiate receptors in the brain are involved in the magnetic field-induced decreases in cholinergic activity in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the rat.
Aging in humans is accompanied by an increase in adrenal glucocorticoid secretion and a decline in adrenal androgen synthesis and secretion. The intense interest in adrenal function in aging individuals in recent years is in large measure related to the potential impact of cortisol excess in the development of cognitive impairment and hippocampal neuronal loss, and to the desire to provide hormone replacement and healthy aging. Although the preliminary data is tantalizing, solid scientific evidence are not at hand. It is apparent that both issues are extremely complex. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its 3 beta-sulfate are fascinating molecules, including their synthesis and actions in the brain. Recent studies have shown that DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S), but not DHEA, activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) in the liver, an intracellular receptor belonging to the steroid receptor superfamily. Thus, DHEA-S may serve as a physiological modulator of liver fatty acid metabolism and peroxisomal enzyme expression, and thereby may contribute to the anticarcinogenic and chemoprotective properties of this intriguing class of endogenous steroids. The life-sustaining role of adrenal cortisol secretion and its regulation of metabolism via catabolic actions may be modulated by its partner DHEA and DHEA-S. During the anabolic growth period (childhood and early adulthood) the body is exposed to relatively high levels of DHEA/DHEA-S but to relatively or absolutely high levels of cortisol during infancy and the aging phase. The cortisol/DHEA-S ratio during the life span follows a U-shape curve, which may be telling us to explore these two critical adrenal steroids in tandem.
In previous research, we have found that acute exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field caused a decrease in cholinergic activity in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the rat. In the present study, the effects of exposure to different intensities of the magnetic field and durations of exposure were investigated. Rats were exposed to a 60 Hz magnetic field for 60 min at a flux density of either 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 mT. A significant decrease in cholinergic activity was observed in the frontal cortex and hippocampus immediately after exposure to the 2.0 mT field. No significant effect was observed at lower intensities. In another experiment, effect of exposure to a 1.0 mT magnetic field for 30, 45, 60, and 90 min was investigated. A decrease in cholinergic activity was found in both brain areas after 90 min of exposure. No significant effect was observed after shorter durations of exposure. In a further experiment, the exposure duration was extended to 3 h at flux densities of 0.5, 0.1, and 0.05 mT. A significant decrease in cholinergic activity was observed in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the rat immediately after exposure to all the intensities. It is concluded that the intensity and duration of exposure interact. By increasing the duration of exposure, effects can be observed at lower intensities.
To investigate whether the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by digital radiotelephone handsets affects the brain, healthy, young subjects were exposed during an entire night-time sleep episode to an intermittent radiation schedule (900 MHz; maximum specific absorption rate 1 W/kg) consisting of alternating 15-min on-15-min off intervals. Compared with a control night with sham exposure, the amount of waking after sleep onset was reduced from 18 to 12 min. Spectral power of the electroencephalogram in non-rapid eye movement sleep was increased. The maximum rise occurred in the 10-11 Hz and 13.5-14 Hz bands during the initial part of sleep and then subsided. The results demonstrate that pulsed high-frequency EMF in the range of radiotelephones may promote sleep and modify the sleep EEG.
The aim of the study was to investigate whether the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by digital radiotelephone handsets affects brain physiology. Healthy, young male subjects were exposed for 30 min to EMF (900 MHz; spatial peak specific absorption rate 1 W/kg) during the waking period preceding sleep. Compared with the control condition with sham exposure, spectral power of the EEG in non-rapid eye movement sleep was increased. The maximum rise occurred in the 9.75-11.25 Hz and 12.5-13.25 Hz band during the initial part of sleep. These changes correspond to those obtained in a previous study where EMF was intermittently applied during sleep. Unilateral exposure induced no hemispheric asymmetry of EEG power. The present results demonstrate that exposure during waking modifies the EEG during subsequent sleep. Thus the changes of brain function induced by pulsed high-frequency EMF outlast the exposure period.
Recent research provides evidence for an interaction between sleep and the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, but detailed studies in patients are still missing. We investigated hourly evening and nocturnal plasma cortisol secretion and sleep in seven male patients with severe chronic primary insomnia and age- and gender-matched controls. Evening and nocturnal cortisol levels were significantly increased in patients. Evening cortisol correlated with the number of nocturnal awakenings in patients and controls. Additionally, patients showed significant correlations between sleep parameters and the first 4 h of nocturnal cortisol secretion. These results are indicative of changes in the HPA system in insomnia and may reflect a pathophysiological mechanism of chronic insomnia resulting in a vicious cycle of both disturbed HPA functions and chronic insomnia according to the arousal hypothesis of insomnia.
Chronic insomnia, by far the most commonly encountered sleep disorder in medical practice, is characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep at night and increased fatigue during the day. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are fatigue-inducing cytokines, and the daytime secretion of IL-6 is negatively influenced by the quantity and quality of the previous night's sleep. We hypothesize that the poor quality of insomniacs' sleep is associated with a hypersecretion of these 2 cytokines during the daytime, which, in turn, correlates with the fatigue experienced by these patients. Eleven young insomniacs (6 men and 5 women) and 11 (8 men and 3 women) age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls participated in the study. Subjects were recorded in the sleep laboratory for 4 consecutive nights and serial 24-hour plasma measures of IL-6 and TNF were obtained during the 4th day. Insomniacs compared to controls slept poorly (sleep latency and wake were increased, whereas percentage sleep time was decreased during baseline nights, all P <.05). The mean 24-hour IL-6 and TNF secretions were not different between insomniacs and controls. However, the difference in the change (increase) of IL-6 plasma levels from midafternoon (2 PM) to evening (9 PM) between insomniacs and controls was significant (P <.01). Furthermore, cosinor analysis showed a significant shift of the major peak of IL-6 secretion from nighttime (4 AM) to evening (7 PM) in insomniacs compared to controls (P <.05). Also, while TNF secretion in controls showed a distinct circadian rhythm with a peak close and prior to the offset of sleep (P <.05), such a rhythm was not present in insomniacs. Finally, daytime secretion of TNF in insomniacs was characterized by a regular rhythm of 4 hours (P <.05); such a distinct periodicity was not present in controls. We conclude that chronic insomnia is associated with a shift of IL-6 and TNF secretion from nighttime to daytime, which may explain the daytime fatigue and performance decrements associated with this disorder. The daytime shift of IL-6 and TNF secretion, combined with a 24-hour hypersecretion of cortisol, an arousal hormone, may explain the insomniacs' daytime fatigue and difficulty falling asleep.
Muscular temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a common stress-related condition showing marked comorbidity with depression and fibromyalgia (FM), both of which are associated with dysregulation of cortisol secretion. We measured cortisol levels in 15 women with well-defined TMD and 15 matched controls by sampling blood at 10-minute intervals over 24 hours in a controlled environment. TMD patients showed markedly increased daytime cortisol levels 30% to 50% higher than those of controls (p = 0.0032) and a one-hour phase delay in the timing of maximum cortisol levels (p = 0.048). Increased activation of the stress hormone axis by conscious pain perception is a likely explanation, but the magnitude of the increase could indicate that pain in the facial region acts as a greater stimulus than pain elsewhere in the body.
'Stress' embraces the reaction to a multitude of poorly defined factors that disturb homeostasis or allostasis. In this overview, the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system have been utilized as objective measurements of stress reactions. Although long-term activation of the sympathetic nervous system is followed by primary hypertension, consequences of similar activation of the HPA axis have not been clearly defined. The focus of this overview is to examine whether or not repeated activation of these two stress centres may be involved in the pathogenesis of abdominal obesity and its comorbidities. In population studies adrenal hormones show strong statistical associations to centralization of body fat as well as to obesity. There is considerable evidence from clinical to cellular and molecular studies that elevated cortisol, particularly when combined with secondary inhibition of sex steroids and growth hormone secretions, is causing accumulation of fat in visceral adipose tissues as well as metabolic abnormalities (The Metabolic Syndrome). Hypertension is probably due to a parallel activation of the central sympathetic nervous system. Depression and 'the small baby syndrome' as well as stress exposure in men and non-human primates are followed with time by similar central and peripheral abnormalities. Glucocorticoid exposure is also followed by increased food intake and 'leptin resistant' obesity, perhaps disrupting the balance between leptin and neuropeptide Y to the advantage of the latter. The consequence might be 'stress-eating', which, however, is a poorly defined entity. Factors activating the stress centres in humans include psychosocial and socioeconomic handicaps, depressive and anxiety traits, alcohol and smoking, with some differences in profile between personalities and genders. Polymorphisms have been defined in several genes associated with the cascade of events along the stress axes. Based on this evidence it is suggested that environmental, perinatal and genetic factors induce neuroendocrine perturbations followed by abdominal obesity with its associated comorbidities.
Stress: Thief in the night
- L Alschuler
Alschuler L. Stress: Thief in the night. Int J Integ Med 2001;3: 27–34.
Chronic exposure to ELF fields may induce depression [review]
- Bw Wilson
Wilson BW. Chronic exposure to ELF fields may induce depression [review]. Bioelectromagnetics 1998;9:195–205.
Epidemiology for Decisionmakers: A Visual Guide to the Residential and Occupational EMF Studies
- Cl Sage
Sage CL. Epidemiology for Decisionmakers: A Visual Guide to the Residential and Occupational EMF Studies (1979–1998). Bioelectromagnetics Society Annual Meeting, 1996.