Is your body’s internal clock, also known as the circadian rhythm, in sync? The 24-hour cycle impacts many biological processes and is associated with vital considerations such as cell regeneration, hormone production, and brain wave activity, to name a few. Over the clock can be disrupted, resulting in circadian sleep disorder. The disorder impacts your sleep quests, from the timing and the ability to fall and remain asleep. We all struggle with sleep challenges at times. A visit to a sleep lab Glendale is recommended if sleep challenges last, especially if it starts to disrupt your routine. This is to help establish the cause and devise a management strategy to facilitate restful sleep. Let’s look at the common circadian rhythm sleep disorder risk factors to help you take steps and avoid them.

Sleep hygiene

Do you have a regular sleep schedule and stick to it? Sleep hygiene concerns such as drinking or eating late, screen time as bedtime approaches, or uncomfortable space can impact your internal clock. You’ll struggle to fall and stay asleep since screen time light keeps you alert, drinking means regular bathroom breaks, and uncomfortable space makes it harder to enjoy a restful sleep. As the habit continues over time, it disrupts the rhythm. A few changes can help improve your sleep hygiene and sync back the rhythm, ensuring you enjoy quality rest.

Mental health

How well do you manage stress? Are you struggling with conditions such as dementia, head injury, or brain damage? Mental health concerns impact your sleep quality and can extend to disrupting the circadian rhythm. Measures like stress management can help improve sleep quality and avoid the disorder. Seeking professional help with issues like dementia or head injuries can help enhance the quality of sleep and circadian rhythm.

Medication

Certain medications can impact your sleep quality. When considering the circadian rhythm, the medications include sleeping aids. You can easily develop dependence, making it harder to fall asleep without the medication. The continued exposure disrupts the natural clock order, leading to the circadian rhythm sleep disorder.

While you may need certain medications, it helps if you understand their impact on your sleep and take relevant measures to mitigate the risks. For instance, instead of relying on sleeping medication, you can turn to professional services, identify the root cause of the sleep problem, and address it, including following holistic approaches.

Lifestyle

Do you travel a lot, especially to different time zones? How about your job; are you on a more erratic schedule? Do you work overnight or shifts that aren’t aligned with natural daylight and dark times? Such a lifestyle can disrupt your rhythm and, with time, cause sleep disorders. You might not be in much control of the lifestyle. Nonetheless, measures such as well-timed naps can help keep the internal clock more in sync.

Quality sleep, which is easier when the circadian rhythm is in sync, can’t be emphasized enough. You need the rest for the body to self-repair, keeping you healthier and in a better mood. If you suspect you have a circadian rhythm sleep disorder, seeking professional help is recommended to help you get it back in sync. Schedule an appointment or call Sonoran Sleep Center for more on circadian rhythm and all sleep-related concerns.