The circadian system regulates rest and activity patterns, but disturbances can lead to insomnia and sleepiness. Temporary disturbances can be caused by travel or changing work shifts, while chronic disorders require treatment such as behavior therapy or medication.
The circadian system, also called the biological clock, is the natural daily cycle that regulates rest and activity patterns. The circadian rhythm helps people maintain regular sleep and wake times, ensuring that the body systems and brain get the right amount of rest each night. There are many different types of circadian rhythm disturbances that can disrupt the cycle and lead to insomnia, sleepiness during waking hours, and general malaise. A circadian rhythm disturbance can be temporary, such as with jet lag or unusual work hours, or it can be a chronic problem that affects a person for months or years at a time.
In most cases, a circadian rhythm disturbance is short-lived and occurs through traveling in different time zones, an illness, or changing shifts at work. A person can get enough sleep when the timing of his daily routine is changed. The disturbances are particularly common among people who work night or night shifts after having been accustomed to day work for a long time. It is often difficult for people to fall asleep when they are used to being awake, especially if it is light outside.
A chronic circadian rhythm disorder is a medically diagnosable condition related to a brain abnormality or chemical imbalance. The most common types are advanced sleep phase syndrome (ASPS) and delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS). ASPS involves an inability to stay awake during the early evening hours and a chronic tendency to wake up very early in the morning despite efforts to change sleep patterns. DSPS sufferers usually cannot get regular sleep at all.
Treatment for a circadian rhythm disorder depends on the types of problems a patient faces and how long they have struggled with insomnia. Most mild cases related to travel or work schedules go away within a few days once the body gets used to a new pattern of sleeping and waking. If a normal pattern cannot be established or a person is diagnosed with a chronic disorder, they can take steps to relieve symptoms. Maintaining a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and taking steps to reduce stress can help increase alertness during your waking hours and ease insomnia before bed.
Some people who suffer from chronic circadian rhythm issues benefit from behavior therapy sessions with psychologists. A therapist can help a client identify environmental causes of stress and anxiety and learn how to better cope with them. Medications may be considered if other treatment measures fail and a person’s health begins to deteriorate. Prescription sleep agents such as melatonin and anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines are usually effective in managing a circadian rhythm disorder.
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