A group of sleep disorders characterized by disruptions in the timing of sleep and wakefulness is called Circadian rhythm sleep disorders (CRSDs). The body’s internal schedule is the circadian rhythm, which controls many physiological processes, including sleep and wake cycles.
Due to a disruption in this pattern, people might have trouble sleeping or remaining unconscious at the correct times, resulting in excessive daily sleepiness, insomnia, or other sleep-related issues.
Your body tries to align your sleep-wake cycle to signal from the environment, like when it’s light or dark outside, when you eat, and when you are physically active. When your sleep-wake cycle is not in sync with your environment, this can lead to difficulties sleeping, and impact the quality of sleep.
Irregular Sleep-Wake Rhythm: This is when a person’s sleep is fragmented into several short periods throughout the day and night, making it difficult to establish a regular sleep schedule.
Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS): A person’s sleep-wake cycle is delayed by two or more hours, making it difficult to fall asleep and wake up at socially acceptable times.
Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome (ASPS): This is the opposite of DSPS, where a person’s sleep-wake cycle is advanced by two or more hours, causing them to fall asleep and wake up much earlier than most.
Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder: The sleep-wake cycle extends longer than 24 hours, leading to a gradual shift in the sleep-wake schedule daily.
Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD): A person’s work schedule requires them to work during the night or irregular hours, leading to difficulty sleeping during the day and problems staying awake at night.
Insomnia: Insomnia is a common symptom of CRSDs in which some people have difficulty falling or staying asleep. According to one study, approximately 8.0% of people in South Africa had insomnia complaints.
Excessive daytime sleepiness: Because of difficulty sleeping at night, people with CRSDs may feel sleepy during the day, impairing their performance at school or work.
Poor sleep quality: Even if people with CRSDs manage to fall asleep, they may have poor sleep quality, causing them to wake up feeling tired.
Mood irregularities: Because of the disruption in their sleep patterns, people with CRSDs may experience mood disturbances such as depression and anxiety.
Difficulty concentrating: Lack of sleep and daytime sleepiness can cause trouble concentrating, affecting daily tasks.
Environmental factors: Environmental factors such as light exposure, temperature, and noise levels can affect the body’s internal clock and disrupt sleep patterns.
Hereditary: Some individuals may be genetically predisposed to circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
Medications: Some medications, such as depression or high blood pressure, can disrupt sleep patterns by interfering with the body’s internal clock.
Ageing: As people age, their circadian rhythms may shift, making falling or staying asleep at appropriate times difficult.
Travel or shift work: Frequent, irregular, or night shifts can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm and lead to sleep problems.
Lifestyle factors: Poor sleep hygiene habits like inconsistent sleep schedules or excessive caffeine consumption can throw the body’s internal clock off.
A medical evaluation, including a medical history review, sleep patterns, and symptoms, are used to diagnose circadian rhythm sleep disorders. To assess sleep habits, a healthcare expert may request sleep tests such as polysomnography or actigraphy.
Complications of circadian rhythm sleep disorders can include excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, insomnia, mood disturbances, and decreased performance at work or school. CRSDs can also affect overall health and well-being, as sleep disruption can increase the risk of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Treatment for circadian rhythm sleep disorders may involve a combination of strategies, including light therapy, chronotherapy, medications, and changes to sleep and wake schedules. In some cases, treatment may involve addressing underlying medical conditions or environmental factors contributing to sleep disruptions.
Prevention of circadian rhythm sleep disorders may involve:
Creating a calming sleep setting and establishing good sleep hygiene practices, such as abstaining from caffeine and alcohol before bed, can also help prevent CRSDs. Additionally, individuals who work night shifts or have irregular work schedules may benefit from strategies such as shifting sleep schedules gradually or using light therapy to adjust their body’s internal clock.