Circadian Rhythm Sleep DisorderCircadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder is a group of sleeping disorders caused by either the person trying to work outside their normal body rhythm or the circadian rhythm has moved outside the normal day.The circadian rhythm describes is the daily cycle of alertness, body temperature, appetite, and hormone levels based on the body clock. The important cycle of sleep and awake is guided by this cycle and when the body gets out of tune with the cycle or the cycle gets out of tune with the body you end with circadian rhythm sleep disorder. Examples of the body getting out of time with the circadian rhythm would be a shift worker trying to sleep during the day or a person who has Jet lag from travelling to a different time zone. Examples of rhythm getting out cycle with the body (these condition characterize circadian rhythm sleep disorder) are Non 24 hour sleep-wake syndrome - This is a condition where people have a non 24 hour circadian cycle. That is they awake and sleep in a cycle that is shorter or more commonly longer than 24 hours. It is most commonly associated with those who are blind as they don't have the influence of light and dark to keep their body rhythmn in the proper cicadian cycle. The condition means that all aspects of the circadian cylce change everyday, a degree that depends on how much their body over or under estimates the 24 day. This causes their times of peak alertness for example to change each day as do hormone levels and other circadian related fuctions. Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome (ASPS)- This is a conditon where sufferers feel the need to go to bed early but then wake early as well. Suffers with advanced ASPS have melatonin levels and core body temperature will cycle hours before an average person. Suffers are treated with bright light therapy, or behaviourly where patients are made to move their bedtime back gradually over time to meet a pattern that is more to their liking. Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS)- The same as advanced but in the reverse order, suffers can't get to sleep and can't wake up. Treatment is the reverse they shielded from light and gradually go to bed earlier and earlier. Irregular sleep-wake rhythm - A condition that is characterized by multiple wake - sleep cycles during the day.
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