Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder: Can Snoring Lead to That?

Have you ever wondered what a Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder actually is?
One of the first books that talked about Circadian Rhythms was called Biorhythms, published in the 60’s. Since then, many studies have been done in this area and most people have become familiar with the term, or at least with some of the symptoms that result. For those who aren’t quite sure, Circadian Rhythms are cycles in the body that maintain a number of bodily processes, the most important of which is our sleep and wake cycles. A Circadian Rhythm Disorder is a disruption in the 24 hour process that the body uses to maintain homeostasis (balance) in many of its functions.

Most operations in our body and brain are regulated at specific times of the day and on a fairly regular schedule. For example, Melatonin, a chemical produced by the body that induces sleep, is secreted during the night. Body temperature changes also occur, the lowest body temperature being before dawn.

Underlying Causes of this disorder are are many but, overall, it is the result of disrupted sleep patterns. Sudden noises,neurological diseases,depression and anxiet can all disrupt the sleep pattern, causing changes in our sleep cycle.

During sleep, our brain undergoes a series of changes in our levels of sleep at very regular times. People need a certain amount of time for each cycle so that they can function normally. Anything that disrupts the stages of sleep and wakes us takes us out of the cycle we are in and will disrupt the brain’s sleep cycle as well.

There are many types of sleep that we cycle through at night. The most important for restorative sleep is the REM cycle. This is the deepest level of sleep where we dream and in which the body repairs itself. People need a certain amount of REM sleep in order to maintain their physical and mental health. Lack of REM sleep can cause hallucinations and even psychosis. In fact, there are depressions where the Underlying Cause is Circadian Sleep Disorder that can be treated by correcting the rhythms. Studies also point to Fibromyalgia, a disease where the nerves are hypersensitive and cause body pain, being attributed to a Circadian Rhythm Disorder. The Underlying cause of the pain is lack of stage 4 sleep over time. In Stage 4, our nervous sytems are repaired. The theory is that somehow, these pain nerves do not “click off” properly and cause residual, reverberating pain. Disruption of the sleep cycle can lead to the actual breakdown of body tissue and also make us more vunerable to disease. Sleep is an important part of anyone’s life.

Although different people need different amounts of sleep, most of us get what we need, most of the time. If we spend less time sleeping, our normal sleep cycles can become disrupted.
Underlying causes of of sleep deprivation are many and lead to symptoms one may have had at one time or another. The body usually compensates for small amounts of sleep loss.The first symptoms would be cognitive: sleepiness, lack of concentration and slowed motor abilities. If these deficits continue to the point where there is a Circadian Rhythm Disorder, that means the cycles have been disrupted to a point where the normal 24 hour cycles of the body and brain are not in sync.

There are different types of Circadian Rhythm Disorders and one of them is Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. This is where the body clock is moving ahead to compensate for the sleep loss and the person is sleeping later than normal. Then, when it’s time to retire, the person is unable to sleep. Even if a normal amount of sleep is enough, it is not at a time that’s appropriate for the person’s lifestyle. There are ways to treat this disorder, by reregulaing our patterns, just going to sleep at the proper time will usually reset the body clock. Certain people need to add light boxes or “Dawn Simulators” to their routine. These mimic the normal 24hour cycles of light and dark from which the body gets its sleeping cues.

If you have any sort of sleeping problem at all,speak to your physician. There are many ways to treat the Underlying Causes of Circadian Rhythem Disorder and ways you can learn to regulate it. A sleep lab test, which tells how you’re sleeping and in which stages, may indicate if another disorder is present.

If you’re having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early, the Underlying Cause may be a Circadian Sleep Disorder.