A reader asks:

 Does time of day matter when undergoing surgery? I realize that a patient is at the mercy of the hospital scheduler, but as a night person, would I do better to opt for morning or afternoon? Or is the circadian rhythm of the surgeon a more important determinant? After all, he should be at his peak of energy and alertness when he operates.

Answer:

Very provactive questions, with no easy answer. Consider also that there are daily rhythms of sensitivity to anesthetics and pain tolerance, which are not necessarily in synch with your behavioral tendency toward eveningness. There may well be times of day when you could achieve full anesthetic effect at far lower dose, and with shorter stay in the recovery room. The best place to read about these possibilities is in The Body Clock Guide to Better Health, listed at the top of the Recommended General Reading list at our recommended reading list.