Circadian rhythms are behavioral, physical, and mental changes occurring within a 24-hour cycle of a person. These natural processes are designed to respond to light and dark in a person’s body’s internal clock. Various body systems follow particular circadian rhythms synchronized in the brain with a master clock influenced by environmental cues tied to day and night. When your circadian rhythm is appropriately aligned, you will experience quality sleep, but when the rhythms are thrown off, you will undergo sleep problems. Here are circadian rhythm Glendale sleep disorders that you need to address.

1. Jet Lag Disorder

You will likely experience jet lag disorder when you travel occasionally, and cross countries with different time zones within a short period. During your intercontinental journeys, until your circadian rhythms acclimate to your new location day and night cycle, you will likely experience fatigue, and sleeping problems from jet lag.

2. Deferred Sleep Phase Disorder

A deferred sleep phase disorder is associated with “night owls,” who mainly remain active at night, and then sleep very late in the morning. This type of disorder is rare among people and affects only 1 or 2 individuals out of every 1000.

The exact causes of deferred sleep phase disorder are unknown, but the condition is related to an individual genetic, or underlying physical condition, or personal behavior.

3. Shift Work Disorder

If you work in an environment requiring reporting in shifts, the work obligations can result in significant disruptions in your circadian rhythm. For instance, if you work a shift requiring reporting during the night, and then sleeping during the day, such shifts can put your sleep schedule at odd with the daylight hours.

4. Non-24 Hour Sleep-wake Disorder

Non-24 Hour Sleep-wake Disorder mainly impacts blind people who don’t always receive light based on the blind person circadian rhythms. In most cases, the body of a blind person does follow a 24-hour cycle. Therefore, the sleeping hours keep shifting backward by minutes, or hours in some cases.

5. Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder

If you’re impacted by advanced sleep phase disorder, on one hand, you will feel tired when evening approaches. On the other hand, you will occasionally wake up daily very early.

The impact of advanced sleep phase disorder can affect you when you want to sleep late at night, or later in the morning because sleep will not come. However, this rare sleep disorder affects only around 1% of middle and older people. It impacts mainly older adults. In some cases, advanced sleep phase disorder is linked to a hereditary genetic cause.

Overall, many sleep disorders can impact your life. If you are experiencing any severe or persistent sleeping difficulty, it would be best to talk to a doctor to diagnose the appropriate treatment. If you’re concerned about a circadian rhythm sleep disorder impacting your life, please conduct or make an appointment at Sonoran Sleep Center to get help. We are open 24/7 to handle all your needs.