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Circadian Rhythm Disorders - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

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Signs and symptoms of circadian rhythm disorders can vary depending on the type of circadian rhythm disorder you have and how severe your condition is. Many of the symptoms of circadian rhythm disorders occur because you are not getting enough good-quality sleep when your body needs it. Undiagnosed and untreated circadian rhythm disorders may increase your risk of certain health conditions or cause workplace or road accidents.

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- Circadian Rhythm Disorders - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

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Common symptoms of circadian rhythm disorders include:

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  • Consistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both
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  • Excessive daytime sleepiness or sleepiness during shift work
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  • Fatigue and exhaustion
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  • Lethargy Lethargy (LEH-thur-jee):
    A condition in which a person experiences drowsiness, reduced alertness, and lack of energy.
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  • Decreased alertness and difficulty concentrating
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  • Impaired judgment and trouble controlling mood and emotions
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  • Aches and pains, including headaches
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  • Stomach problems, in people who have jet lag disorder
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How do circadian rhythm disorders affect judgment?

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Circadian rhythm disorders often cause sleep deficiency, a condition in which you do not get the recommended amount of uninterrupted quality sleep. Sleep deprivation can change how well your brain judges risky situations and behaviors. When you do not get enough sleep, you may underestimate the risks and overestimate the rewards of certain situations. This may lead you to make riskier choices than you would have made if you were well rested. Not getting enough sleep when you need it can also increase your risk for accidents, such as those caused by drowsy driving after working a night shift, for example.

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- Circadian Rhythm Disorders - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

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Circadian rhythm disorders may increase your risk for the following health conditions:

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  • A weakened immune system immune system (ih-MYOON sis-tum):
    The body\u2019s system of defense against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. It includes many kinds of cells and interrelated responses.     ,     which can lead to infections and poor recovery from illnesses
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  • Cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis or stroke
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  • cognitive cognitive (KOG-nih-tiv):
    Describes higher brain functions involved in learning, including the ability to process information, remember, reason, and understand.     and behavioral disorders, such as decreases in attention, vigilance, concentration, motor skills, and memory. These can lead to reduced productivity, workplace mistakes, or road accidents. In teens and young adults, circadian rhythm disorders can cause risky behavior and problems with concentrating at school, controlling emotions, and coping with stress.
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  • Digestive disorders, such as stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome. Circadian rhythm disorders may influence the signaling from the brain to the gastrointestinal tract. They may also increase inflammation in the bowel, which can lead to digestive symptoms.
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  • Fertility problems. Circadian rhythm disorders may disrupt the hormone cycle that controls fertility and reproduction.
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  • Metabolism disorders, which can lead to diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and overweight and obesity
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  • Mood disorders, including irritability, anxiety, and depression
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  • Worsening of other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea
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Do you want to learn more about how circadian rhythm disorders cause problems with metabolism in shift workers?

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When shift work triggers a circadian rhythm disorder, it can disrupt your metabolism in a few ways. Normally, your biological clock helps control your hunger hormones. However, when you do not get enough good-quality sleep, your body makes less leptin, the hormone that tells your body when you are full, and more ghrelin, the hormone that tells your body you are hungry. You may respond by eating larger amounts of food than normal, as well as more fatty, sweet, and salty foods.

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- Circadian Rhythm Disorders - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

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  • Diagnosis will discuss tests and procedures used to detect signs of circadian rhythm disorders and help rule out other conditions that may mimic circadian rhythm disorders.
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  • Treatment will discuss treatment-related complications or side effects.
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Syndicated Content Details:
Source URL: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/subscribe/87591
Source Agency: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Captured Date: 2019-09-27 13:40:00.0
","description":"Signs and symptoms of circadian rhythm disorders can vary depending on the type of circadian rhythm disorder you have and how severe your condition is. Many of the symptoms of circadian rhythm disorders occur because you are not getting enough good-quality sleep when your body needs it. Undiagnosed and untreated circadian rhythm disorders may increase your risk of certain health conditions or cause workplace or road accidents.","id":18870,"mediaType":"Html","name":"Circadian Rhythm Disorders \u2013 Signs, Symptoms, and Complications","sourceUrl":"https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/subscribe/87591"}]}