My husband’s biological clock, 73 years old, is out of whack. It lives at night and sleeps during the day until about two o’clock in the afternoon. How do we get that clock right? This has been the case for almost a year and a half.
Husband (73)
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
I would actually like to know how biological clock so upset and whether your spouse is otherwise healthy. After all, disturbances of the day-and-night rhythm also occur in brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. If the disturbed rhythm is the only problem, I would try to fix it with melatonin. This hormone is released by the pineal gland in the brain when it is dark and makes you sleepy. Prescription tablets of 5 mg are available at the pharmacy. There is also a slow-release melatonin preparation, the idea being that it more closely mimics the natural situation. This is called Circadin and is also only available by prescription. If this does not work, contact your doctor and perhaps a neurologist. There are now also outpatient clinics specialized in sleep disorders.
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