Circadian rhythm disorders occur when the body's natural sleep-wake cycle is disrupted and the individual is not able to sleep at the appropriate time. Two commmon conditions are going to sleep much later (delayed) or much earlier (advanced) than ancitipated, but the single most common ways in which these problems arise is when a person chooses or is required to work on an unusual schedule (shift work) or travels so much they must adopt another schedule (jet lag)

Night shift work is very common in the United States and many other countries. This schedule means that sleep must occur during the day or afternoon. And, given all of one's other personal and social obligations and responsibilities, you can imagine how difficult it would be to gain a full period of restful slumber.

Many people who work night shifts or who travel a lot resort to sleeping pills. Others find they just sleep less hours and then use more caffeine or stimulants during their night shift. Then, one of course the big issue is what do you do on the nights you're not working? Do you go to sleep as if you didn't work nights? Or, do you stay up and go to sleep according to the system you have in place for your night shift schedule? For more >> click here