Your Body Clock ABC News — Many people might not know it, but research has shown that there’s a best time to take pills, an ideal hour to hit the treadmill, and a certain time of month that allows women to get the most accurate mammogram results. Most of our bodily functions, including digestion, respiration, and hormone production, fluctuate over the course of a day, month and even year because of the ways our bodies respond to light, darkness, temperature, activity and sleep. ABCNEWS' Medical Correspondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman told Good Morning America about a rapidly growing medical field called chronobiology. Researchers are beginning to use chronobiology to figure out how diseases might be treated with these biological rhythms in mind. "Chronobiology says basically everything has its own clock, whether it's on a 24-hour clock or monthly clock, we know it affects tumors and how medications work, something as simple as when you get a mammogram, how things grow, how medications work," said Dr. Snyderman. "The secret is to figure out what the problem is, what the medication does, and then target it at the right time." Mammograms’ Time of the Month A number of studies have indicated that mammograms are more accurate when done within the first two weeks after the start of a woman's period. One recent study of 2,500 women conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found that women who wait until two weeks after they start their period have the best chance of getting a more accurate reading. Researchers have found that women having their mammogram during the last two weeks of their menstrual cycle, were twice as likely to have false-negative mammogram results. A false-negative mammogram occurs when the x-ray is interpreted as not-suspicious, when cancer is actually present. Dr. Cornelia Baines, one of the authors of the study stated, "From our research we've learned menstruation may partially explain why women under 50 years of age do not benefit from screening mammograms as much as older women." Data were collected from 8,887 menstruating women between the age of 40 and 44. Researchers compared mammogram results of women in days one through 14 of their menstrual cycle (the follicular phase), with those in days 15 through 28 of their cycle (the luteal phase). Dr. Baines concluded that this study "shows there is an opportunity to improve the accuracy of mammograms by choosing to have mammograms during the first half of the menstrual cycle." Is Timing Important? A study published in the August 1997 issue of the journal "Cancer" found that women having their mammogram during the last two weeks of their menstrual cycle, were twice as likely to have false-negative mammogram results. A false-negative mammogram occurs when the x-ray is interpreted as not-suspicious, when cancer is actually present. Dr. Cornelia Baines, one of the authors of the study stated, "From our research we've learned menstruation may partially explain why women under 50 years of age do not benefit from screening mammograms as much as older women." Tips on Medical Timing — In Good Morning America's "Healthy Woman" segment, ABCNEWS Medical Correspondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman gave us a quiz on chronobiology. Here are the tips she offered: Mammograms are more accurate when done within the first two weeks after the start of a woman's period. The best time to schedule a dental appointment is after menstruation. The ideal time to give yourself a self-breast examination is five days after menstruation. To relieve the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the best time to take fiber is during the second half of your menstrual cycle. For migraine medication, the best time to take it is a few days before and a few days after menstruation. ================================================================== Breast Cancer News is brought to you by the The MID HUDSON OPTIONS PROJECT Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.