Circadian rhythm disorders are disruptions in a person's circadian rhythm -- a name given to the "internal body clock" that regulates the (approximately) 24-hour cycle of biological processes in animals and plants. The term circadian comes from Latin words that literally mean around the day. There are patterns of brain wave activity, hormone production, cell regeneration, and other biological activities linked to this 24-hour cycle.
The circadian "clock" in humans is located mainly in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is a group of cells located in the hypothalamus (a portion of the brain). Circadian rhythms are important in determining human sleeping patterns.
What Causes Circadian Rhythm Disorders?
Circadian rhythm disorders can be caused by many factors, including:
Shift work
Pregnancy
Time zone changes
Medications
Changes in routine
Jet Lag or Rapid Time Zone Change Syndrome: This syndrome consists of symptoms including excessive sleepiness and a lack of daytime alertness in people who travel across time zones.
Shift Work Sleep Disorder: This sleep disorder affects people who frequently rotate shifts or work at night
Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS): This is a disorder of sleep timing. People with DSPS tend to fall asleep at very late times and have difficulty waking up in time for work, school, or social engagements.
Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome: Advanced sleep phase syndrome is a disorder in which the major sleep episode is advanced in relation to the desired clock time. This syndrome results in symptoms of evening sleepiness, an early sleep onset, and waking up earlier than desired.
Non 24-Hour Sleep Wake Disorder: Non 24-hour sleep wake disorder is a condition in which an individual has a normal sleep pattern but lives in a 25-hour day. Throughout time the person's sleep cycle will be affected by inconsistent insomnia that occurs at different times each night. People will sometimes fall asleep at a later time and wake up later, and sometimes fall asleep at an earlier time and wake up earlier.
How Are Circadian Rhythm Disorders Treated?
Circadian rhythm disorders are treated based on the kind of disorder that is present. The goal of treatment is to fit a persons sleep pattern into a schedule that can allow the person to meet the demands of a desired lifestyle. Therapy usually combines proper sleep hygiene techniques and external stimulus therapy such as bright light therapy or chronotherapy. Chronotherapy is a behavioral technique in which the bedtime is gradually and systematically adjusted until a desired bedtime is achieved. Bright-light therapy is designed to reset a persons circadian rhythm to a desired pattern. When combined, these therapies may produce significant results in people with circadian rhythm disorders.
There are also medications available:
Melatonin: Melatonin supplements, available over-the-counter, may be used to enhance the natural sleep process and for resetting the body's internal time clock when traveling through different time zones. Melatonin supplements have been reported to be useful in treating jet lag and sleep-onset insomnia in elderly persons with melatonin deficiency. However, melatonin supplements have not been approved by the FDA; therefore, it is not clear as to how much melatonin is safe and effective.
Benzodiazepines: Short-acting benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, are often chosen in the early treatment of a circadian rhythm disorder and are used in conjunction with behavioral therapy.
Nonbenzodiazepine Hypnotics. These medications, such as Ambien, Sonata and Lunesta, are gaining popularity because they do not have a significant effect on the regular sleep cycle and are not associated with the rebound phenomenon seen with benzodiazepines.
Click these links for more info:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/circadian-rhythm-disorders-cause
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/circadian-rhythm-disorder-medications
2007-06-26 11:26:55
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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The circadian rhythm is referred to as a diurnal rhythm regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus located in the center of the brain. This area controls many 'automatic' functions such as pulse and blood pressure. The circadian rhythm goes through 2 ups and downs during the day. Blood pressure and pulse for instance peak at about 11 AM and have a lower peak at about 4 PM. The circadian rhythm is based upon exposure to daylight so individuals who work the night shift have a great deal of difficulty with their circadian 'clock'. It is very difficult to reset and very difficult to over-ride. Thus errors are more common among night shift workers. The schedule of young people today is increasingly chaotic and these young folks are experiencing a variety of problems as they try to over-ride their circadian clock. Rest deprivation for example is a ubiquitous problem when individuals do not follow an old-fashioned up at 6 AM in bed at 10 PM lifestyle. An increasing number of health disorders are being linked to over-riding the normal circadian rhythm. It is of interest that the circadian clock is not set for a 24 hour day but rather for a slightly longer than 24 hour day. The significance of this and the reason for this anomaly is unknown.
2007-06-26 10:39:23
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answer #2
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answered by john e russo md facm faafp 7
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What I believe you're looking for is "circadian" rhythm. This is simply the daily cycle your body goes through - periods of waking, sleeping, alertness, drowsiness, etc. in a 24-hour period.
2007-06-26 09:23:52
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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answer #4
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answered by ? 4
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2014-09-22 21:36:02
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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