World Wednesday: All you need to know about your sleep-wake cycle

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Men, in general, are often night owls due to their biological makeup and the fact that their clocks run closer to a full day. On the other hand, women are often early birds because of their biological makeup, and their clocks do not run as long.

The National Sleep Foundation states: “On average, men have a circadian cycle that’s six minutes longer than for women… In women, the internal clock is more likely to be shorter than a full 24-hour cycle… which may also increase their susceptibility to early-waking sleep disturbances.”

The sleep-wake cycle controls when you feel awake or when you feel sleepy.

“Your circadian rhythm causes your level of wakefulness to rise and dip throughout the day. Most people desire to sleep between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. … then again between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. … our circadian rhythm can also change as you age…” , reported by the National Sleep Foundation.

Your rhythm also controls your body temperature. When you are awake, your body temperature increases, and it decreases while you are sleeping.