Report Example on Circadian Dysrhythmia

Introduction

The sleep of adequate depth, continuity, and duration is associated with increased cognitive processes and attention when individuals are awake and further prevents physiological alterations, resulting in adverse health outcomes. Circadian rhythms refer to the endogenous activities responsible for displaying "oscillatory patterns of approximately 24 hours," which entails variations in hormone production and sleep-wake cycles (K Scott, 2015). The rhythms determine and regulate sleep patterns. In this case, the circadian clock is responsible for maintaining, controlling, and generating such rhythms (Zisapel, 2018). An individual’s master clock regulates melatonin production by "the pineal gland," which makes individuals fall asleep; it also collects information from optic nerves regarding incoming light, which conveys data from the eyes to an individual’s mind.

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For instance, during the night, in minimal light, the SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) induces the mind into producing an increased amount of melatonin. This further stimulates sleep anticipation in DMN, “brain default mode,” the process of producing melatonin is continuous to ensure an individual remains asleep throughout the night (K Scott, 2015). In the daytime, the increased exposure to light makes the master clock induce signals responsible for generating alertness, making individuals active and awake. However, as one grows old, the production of melatonin and the circadian systems' robustness reduces; this may also result from other diseases. Low sleep quality and abnormal circadian rhythms are linked with amplified mortality risks, reduced life quality, cognitive and metabolic illnesses, and cardiovascular risks.

Adequate Sleep

Adequate sleep is stated as that which lasts between 6-8 hours, which is also vital in enhancing health-associated behaviors of individuals. Research provides that even though lack of enough sleep results in fatigue, there exists a difference between sleepiness and fatigue (K Scott, 2015). Circadian rhythms disruptions are the leading causes of fatigue. The disruptions entail alterations in sleeping patterns and difficulties in falling or remaining asleep; treatments can be given through behavioral therapies, medications, and bright light therapy. Disruptions may result from jet lag disorders occurring after individuals across several time zones in limited time; they mostly affect captains of intercontinental flights. Advanced sleep phase disorders, in which individuals appear tired in the evenings yet wake up early the following days and find it difficult to go back to sleep, it affects roughly 1% of old-middle aged(Zisapel, 2018). Late sleep phase disorders affect 16% of adolescents.

They involve sleeping late during the morning and staying late-night. "Non-24h sleep-wake disorders" affect the blind, unable to receive light necessary for cardiac rhythm. In this case, their slumbering time shifts backward continually by hours and minutes (K Scott, 2015). This is because light influences circadian rhythm. Through the light sensors in an individual’s eye, it can detect dark and light cycles in an individual’s surroundings, after which it influences circadian rhythm such that external and internal days coincide. Such disruptions also cause slower thinking rates, impulsivities, and weight gains.

Circadian Rhythm

From research, such (CRD) circadian rhythm disruptions mainly affect shift workers working 24/7 and may increase organizations' accidents and reduce productivities. A recently conducted survey provides that fatigue is the main reason behind approximately 65 percent of vehicle driving accidents. In this case, the aircrews often traveling and working through time zones while others are sleeping at an increased risk (Zisapel, 2018). This is because it can interfere with their standard sleeping patterns and biological clock, resulting in intestinal and stomach problems, injuries, boredom, difficulties in sleeping, and fatigue. For instance, in the Tawain airplane crash, the captain is depicted as having slept for 2100-2200 in the six days before the crash, reports state that he may have been influenced by "Circadian desynchronosis" in the accident.

This is because traveling through distinct time zones interferes with an individual’s biological clocks such that they become distinct from particular local time. Research provides that although travelers recover from circadian disruptions after 1-2 weeks, most crewmembers show increased vulnerabilities to circadian disruption exposures compared to their coworkers, therefore, becoming more prone to adverse health effects (Gutierrez, 2016). According to NIOSH research, there are increased congenital disabilities and miscarriage risks in the initial pregnancy trimester, particularly for shift employees working in the usual sleeping time for more than 15 hours (Zisapel, 2018). Disruptions in sleep patterns also interfere with normal body processes and conditions such as hormonal levels. According to WHO (world health organization), if the condition is left unchecked, shift workers are also at risk of getting cancer, which further raises the need to eliminate the situation before more harm is done.

Preventative Measures

Preventative measures include reducing the time taken when working on trips arranged during an individual's regular sleeping hours and avoiding long trips crossing numerous time zones (Gutierrez, 2016). This is because such flight conditions contribute to circadian disruption levels.

Similarly, when arranging a pregnancy or pregnant, work exposures should be examined and considered. This does not only help in preventing circadian disruptions(Jet lag) but also avoiding physical jobs such as bending from the waist, standing and working for a prolonged time, and avoiding cosmic ionizing radiations, which may interfere with individuals reproductive health.

Adopting appropriate sleeping patterns such as reducing light and noises while sleeping by using eye masks and earplugs. Sleeping in relaxed rooms with comfortable bedding, avoiding caffeine, spicy and fatty meals, and alcoholic drinks 2-3h earlier to bedtime (Gutierrez, 2016). During an individual’s days off, sleeping schedules should not be altered, and sleeping early is vital after days of inadequate sleep.

Conclusion

Rozerem is also useful in enhancing initiating and regularizing circadian rhythm illnesses (Gutierrez, 2016). Sleep doctors should review medications administered to, especially the older people, which is vital in listing drugs which pose a risk to the individual’s body.

References

Foster, R. G., Peirson, S. N., Wulff, K., Winnebeck, E., Vetter, C., & Roenneberg, T. (2013). Sleep and circadian rhythm disruption in social jetlag and mental illness. In Progress in molecular biology and translational science (Vol. 119, pp. 325-346). Academic Press. Retrieve from:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123969712000117

Goel, N., Basner, M., Rao, H., & Dinges, D. F. (2013). Circadian rhythms, sleep deprivation, and human performance. In Progress in molecular biology and translational science (Vol. 119, pp. 155-190). Academic Press. Retrieve from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123969712000075

Gutierrez, D., & Arbesman, J. (2016). Circadian dysrhythmias, physiological aberrations, and the link to skin cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 17(5), 621. Retrieve from:
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/17/5/621

James, S. M., Honn, K. A., Gaddameedhi, S., & Van Dongen, H. P. (2017). Shift work: disrupted circadian rhythms and sleep—implications for health and well-being. Current sleep medicine reports, 3(2), 104-112.Retrieve from:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40675-017-0071-6

J Reitz, C., & A Martino, T. (2015). Disruption of circadian rhythms and sleep on critical illness and the impact on cardiovascular events. Current pharmaceutical design, 21(24), 3505-3511. Retrieve from:
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cpd/2015/00000021/00000024/art00011

K Scott, B. (2015). Disruption of circadian rhythms and sleep in critical illness and its impact on the development of delirium. Current pharmaceutical design, 21(24), 3443-3452.Retrieve from: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cpd/2015/00000021/00000024/art00005

Lauber, J. K., & Kayten, P. J. (1988). Sleepiness, circadian dysrhythmia, and fatigue in transportation system accidents. Sleep: Journal of Sleep Research & Sleep Medicine.Retrieve from:
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1989-24280-001

McKenna, H. T., Reiss, I. K., & Martin, D. S. (2017). The significance of circadian rhythms and dysrhythmias in critical illness. Journal of the Intensive Care Society, 18(2), 121-129.Retrieve from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1751143717692603

Potter, G. D., Skene, D. J., Arendt, J., Cade, J. E., Grant, P. J., & Hardie, L. J. (2016). Circadian rhythm and sleep disruption: causes, metabolic consequences, and countermeasures. Endocrine Reviews, 37(6), 584-608.Retrieve from: https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article-abstract/37/6/584/2691715

Skene, D. J., & Arendt, J. (2007). Circadian rhythm sleep disorders in the blind and their treatment with melatonin. Sleep medicine, 8(6), 651-655.Retrieve from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389945706006861

Smith, M. T., McCrae, C. S., Cheung, J., Martin, J. L., Harrod, C. G., Heald, J. L., & Carden, K. A. (2018). Use of actigraphy for the evaluation of sleep disorders and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 14(7), 1231-1237. Retrieve from: https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/abs/10.5664/jcsm.7230

Zisapel, N. (2018). New perspectives on the role of melatonin in human sleep, circadian rhythms, and their regulation. British journal of pharmacology, 175(16), 3190-3199. Retrieve from:
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