Revealed: The Five Types of Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

We all have a built-in body clock known as the circadian rhythm. For most of us, it runs on an (approximately) 24-hour cycle. A disruption in this cycle or a mismatch with the external environment can lead to a circadian rhythm disorder.

If you feel as though you sometimes suffer from insomnia, and sometimes suffer with daytime sleepiness, your internal body clock may not be appropriately aligned with the day-night cycle.

This condition is associated with those who tend to be awake and working when their bodies are expected to be asleep. It can lead to insomnia and excessive sleepiness.

The best treatment for this condition is to stick to a regular sleep/wake cycle. If that's not possible, rotating shifts every two weeks in a forward direction may help. Naps can help if kept to less than 30 minutes. Exposure to bright light in the evening and restriction of bright light in the morning may help.

This is characterized by the inability to fall asleep until late at night and difficulty waking in the morning. Those with this disorder may find it difficult to wake in the morning and are commonly referred to as night owls.

在密苏里州的早期暴露在明亮的光rning for 30-90 minutes may help, especially when combined with light restriction in the evenings. Glasses that block blue light in the evening may also be helpful.

这个特点是无法留在那边ke until bedtime and finding it difficult to stay asleep in the morning. As a result, individuals tend to go to bed very early in the evening and wake very early in the morning.

Exposure to bright light in the evenings can help maintain alertness and reset bedtimes to a more appropriate hour.

Those with this condition will tend to get the right amount of sleep for their age, but they will get no real sleep cycle rest during the night. Instead, sleep comes from numerous naps, with no pattern of sleep and wakefulness.

Practicing good sleep hygiene such as keeping a regular bedtime and wake time can help. Furthermore, trying to stick to a regular routine during the day (for example, eating times and activity times) can also help.

Individuals with this sleep condition have variable sleep patterns. Most sufferers are blind; as a result their internal body clock is completely out of sync with the external environment.

Melatonin and melatonin receptor agonists may help improve sleep patterns in blind individuals. For sighted individuals, exposure to bright light in the morning can help.

There is inconsistent evidence for melatonin as a treatment for sleep disorders. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found little difference between melatonin and placebo. In fact, higher doses can lead to daytime sleepiness, depression, and sleep disturbance.