If you’re lying awake late into the night or fighting to stay awake during the day, you may be experiencing a circadian rhythm abnormality. The disruption of your body’s natural 24-hour cycle controls sleep, alertness, and energy levels, causing sleep disturbances, fatigue, and difficulty maintaining a routine. At The Sleep Medicine Institute in Tampa, Florida, Lara Wittine, MD, FAASM, offers expert evaluation and treatment to help you restore balance and achieve restful sleep. Schedule your appointment online or call the office today.
A circadian rhythm abnormality occurs when your body’s internal clock, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle, becomes misaligned with the environment or your daily schedule.
Typically, the 24-hour rhythm helps control when you feel awake or sleepy by responding to light, darkness, and routine activities. When the rhythm gets disrupted, you may struggle to fall asleep, wake up too early, or feel sleepy at inappropriate times, which can affect your sleep, mood, concentration, and overall health.
Yes. Several types of circadian rhythm sleep disorders exist, each affecting sleep timing in different ways. The most common ones include:
You naturally fall asleep and wake up much later than what’s considered typical, often leading to difficulty waking up for work or school.
You fall asleep and wake up earlier than desired, which is more common in older adults.
Your sleep pattern lacks consistency, causing multiple short sleep periods scattered throughout the day and night.
The sleep cycle continuously shifts later each day. This disorder is common in people who are blind.
Shift work disorder is caused by working overnight or rotating shifts that conflict with your natural body clock.
Circadian rhythm disorders can result from various factors, including genetics, lifestyle, or medical conditions.
Frequent travel across time zones, working night shifts, or excessive screen exposure before bed can disrupt your internal clock. Age-related changes and certain neurological or psychiatric disorders may also contribute.
In some cases, your body’s natural circadian rhythm runs longer or shorter than the typical 24-hour cycle, making it hard to align with social or work schedules.
At The Sleep Medicine Institute, a diagnosis usually involves a detailed sleep history, sleep diaries, or actigraphy (a wrist-worn device that tracks sleep patterns).
Treatment focuses on resetting your body’s internal clock using methods such as light therapy, melatonin supplements, and behavioral strategies like maintaining a consistent bedtime and limiting screen time at night.
With Dr. Wittine’s expertise and proper care, you can restore healthy, predictable sleep patterns. Learn more by calling the friendly staff to book an appointment or use the convenient online scheduling feature.