Sleeping disorders are a different manifestation of a more significant problem within our bodies and result from chronodisruption.
This affects other circadian rhythms that could lead to more severe pathologies, including inflammation, oxidative stress and, in turn, metabolic disorders, hormonal disorders including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. The solution is treatment by melatonin.
The 18th of March is a date dedicated to sleep and is referred to as World Sleep Day and is a reflection of the comprehensive awareness and concern over the rise in sleep disorders in people of all ages. It’s an appropriate time to remind people that insomnia isn’t just one issue related to the lack of sleep, which is in itself an issue; it’s far more severe than the single point implies. Let’s examine the reasons.
It is generally accepted that we rest to repair our bodies after our activities. However, recently the results of a groundbreaking study have proven (through using rats) that during sleep, the spaces between our neurons grow as if a sponge and assists in the removal of the cells’ waste produced through our metabolism throughout the day.
The accumulation of these wastes is harmful to the brain. When rats were kept from sleeping, it was found that this process was not observed as cellular debris was accumulated within the brain. This resulted in damage to neurons and affected normal brain functioning. Therefore, it could be said that if we don’t get enough sleep, our brains are damaged similarly. This gradually and slowly affects our cognitive performance.
Without regard to the organic cause, most sleep disorders have a chronobiotic basis; that is to say, they are due to a shift within the system that manages cycles of the circadian clock within our bodies. This system is derived from the neurons inside the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which are two regions of our brain that connect to the outside via the optic nerve. These neurons are what we refer to as”the” central clock in the biological system. This is how the biological clock can receive information about what amount of sunlight is present in our surroundings. Since the day/night cycle is similar to Light and dark, it runs for 24 hours.
The biological clock operates in the same way, which is, in other words, that it is a 24-hour clock. We refer to these rhythms as circadian, which means near (circa means close) to an hour of the day. The biological clock produces signalling transmitted to the body, ensuring that the body operates in a coordinated way. The clock in the body allows the body to adjust to changes in the environment, temperature, and other factors. That is the reason why the clock controls the timing of every biological function. In addition, the sleep/wake pattern and the activity/rest synchronization, the body temperature, hormonal rhythms and the cerebral neurotransmitters’ rhythm patterns related to metabolic activity and so on. All of these are controlled by the cycle of the day established in the clock of our body. In turn, when our bodies function in a coordinated way, we can adapt precisely to the environment.
It is done primarily through the hormone melatonin. The biological clock transmits a signal every day of the nighttime through the pineal gland that causes it to create melatonin. Melatonin is then released into the bloodstream, into circulation and immediately circulates through the body. The signal, which is a nocturnal peak, is recognized by the tissues and organs of the body to set into motion their clocks and circadian functions. Since the rise of melatonin production occurs precisely each day, it ensures that the entire body is in sync at the same time.
First, we’d like to have a doctor bring our sleep back to normal since when we suffer from insomnia, we can’t rest when we are tired during the day and our concentration and memory, physical capabilities and more. All drop. We blame all these signs on not sleeping enough. This is true to a certain degree.
What if what’s occurring to our bodies is our biological clock failing?
In this instance, insomnia is a result due to malfunction. This is only one of the variations; the whole body is affected, and sleep disorders indicate the root issue. Therefore, if we address the lack of sleep using hypnotics, we are merely fixing (if one could say that it is the process of correcting) the irregular circadian rhythm based on the sleep/wake cycle. This is a significant distinction since the other rhythms are also unsynchronized. So, it is not possible to say that treatments solve the issue; they help to mask the problem and, in certain instances, even worsen the issue.
If the biological clock isn’t functioning correctly is referred to as the phenomenon of chronodisruption, which is the leading reason for sleep disorders and other disruptions to the circadian rhythm.
Our activities in the social realm and excessive Light, sometimes described as ambient light pollution, have affected the population of industrialized countries for many years. We are estimated to suffer from a sleep deficit that ranges from 1.5-2 hours per day, meaning you don’t get to sleep for 7-8 hours per day; we are sleeping lower than recommended.
The Light from cities and our habit of sleeping later, the Light from street lamps as well as televisions and our tablet that we use to go to bed can all affect us at the very least, they interfere with the biological clock of our body and cause an additional delay when it comes to the creation of melatonin as a result of the increase in light levels until late in the evening. In many cases, even this exposure to Light blocks our body clock’s functioning and the production of melatonin.
This chronodisruption is that all cycles that depend on the bio clock and the production of melatonin are affected. Because of this, the effects of Light pollution and a decrease in melatonin are frequently related to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Cancer and neurodegenerative disorders as well as other diseases.
Chronodisruption is also caused by medication, which is the case with hypnotics, frequently prescribed to treat insomnia.
They block the production of melatonin, trigger chronodisruption and could cause more severe health issues than the diseases they are trying to treat.
The first thing we need to identify is the disturbance in the chronodisruption that, while it is possible to detect by using questionnaires, can be difficult to spot during a routine consultation. The second step is to determine the extent of desynchronization or, in other words, the amount of alteration in the circadian rhythms of the body due to the malfunctioning of the biological clock.
The change could be severe or mild. Since the biological clock is responsible for the melatonin’s rhythm, which influences the rest of the body’s internal rhythms, the circadian melatonin rhythm measurement could be used to determine how severe the disruption is to chronodisruption affects the person affected.
The rhythm of melatonin’s circadian cycle is also relatively simple to gauge. Sometimes, it’s essential to perform additional tests to discover other elements of the disorder.
This is usually done with the help of sensors on the arm and wrist that allow measurements to be recorded throughout the day, which records variables related to the body’s rhythms, temperature, Light, activity and rest. When paired with other tests, it is enough information to identify the chronobiotic disorder or the chronodisruption accurately.
The issue depends on the “disorder” in question, and the degree of difficulty is based on the disorder. It’s not a surprise that we should begin with a known situation, which states that melatonin is the preferred drug for treating insomnia. We are aware the clock in our biological system is controlled by melatonin and is resynchronized with the introduction of the hormone melatonin. It is probable that when the timer gets broken, melatonin production stops or is interrupted. Therefore, many believe that the administration of melatonin could fix the issue not just of sleeping but also the issues with all the disrupted cycles and restore normal functions for our bodies. However, it is crucial to be cautious because the body’s system is sensitive to melatonin during a particular time of day. The inappropriate use of melatonin in dosage and the time of day may negate the intended positive effect and even worsen the issue.
Remember that the sleep disorder is an additional manifestation (the most evident of a more extensive condition in our body, chronodisruption. It alters other circadian rhythms of our bodies. The dissociation of our circadian rhythms could lead to more severe diseases, including inflammation, oxidative stress and, in turn, metabolic disorders, hormonal issues like diabetes, metabolic syndrome, tumours, neurodegenerative diseases and more. If we treat only insomnia, it isn’t an excellent solution for our body. It is necessary to fix the biological clock, and everything will be working for a second time. Given the continuing interest in this area, the connection between chronodisruption and systemic diseases could be the focus of a separate article in the near time.
Suppose you think you are sleeping poorly and you would like to rest better as we have already talked about the benefits of sleeping correctly. In that case, we recommend that you approach one of our experts at Marcare Clinic. We will take care of giving you a complete evaluation. We will provide you with personalized recommendations to improve your rest at bedtime.
