You probably have burning questions on what Circadian Rhythm is and how it works. Fret not, though since this quick guide has got some of the answers to your questions. Circadian Rhythms, our 24-hour biological cycles, govern more than our walking and sleeping.
In fact, they impact when we are born, when we die, and how we pass the days in between. Our body’s Circadian Rhythms are governed by a ‘master clock’ located in a tine region of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
You’d be surprised to learn that it works more so like a conductor, striking up on section of the body’s orchestra as another quiets down, taking its main cue from light signals in order to stay in sync with the 24-hour day. Our body’s hormones surge and ebb to this maestro’s invisible wand. Even our cells grow faster during certain hours of the day.
When the Circadian Rhythm is thrown off, it simply means that the body’s systems doesn’t function optimally. A disturbed sleep-wake Circadian Rhythm can lead to serious sleeping problems such as insomnia. Without the proper signaling from the body’s internal clock, a person can struggle to fall asleep, wake up during the night, or be unable to sleep as long as they want into the morning.
In most instances, their total sleep can be reduced, and a disrupted Circadian Rhythm can also mean shallower, fragmented, and lower-quality sleep. If this is not enough, Circadian Rhythm disruptions are possible contributors to obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder marked by repeated lapses in breathing.
It is worth mentioning that disruptions to Circadian Rhythms can occur over the short-or long-term. No wonder experts have been able to identify a number of types of Circadian Rhythm sleep-wake disorders (CRSWD) based on their traits and causes.
Among the most common ones include jet lag disorder, shift work disorder, advanced sleep phase disorder, and delayed sleep phase disorder. It pays off to have a clear insight into how each type of Circadian Rhythm disorder works.
As we conclude, while we don’t have total control over our Circadian Rhythm, there are healthy sleep tips you can employ to better entrain our 24-hour sleep cycles. Seek out sun, follow a consistent sleep schedule, get daily exercise, and avoid caffeine to stand a better chance of keeping your health in check and leading a better life.
