A person's eating patterns are associated with their circadian rhythm.
Circadian rhythm is a concept that is used in the field of biology to name the oscillations of certain biological variables in a regular time interval. This rhythm is also known as a biological rhythm .
It should be noted that rhythm is an order that organizes a succession of things, formed by the reiteration of cycles at certain time intervals . There are, according to the context, different kinds of rhythms.
The adjective circadian , for its part, is made up of two Latin words: circa (which can be translated as “close” ) and dies ( “day” ). Circadian is defined as that which is linked to a period of about twenty-four hours.
Characteristics of the circadian rhythm
Typically, the circadian rhythm is linked to environmental changes that also develop rhythmically. In any case, it is an endogenous (internal) rhythm that can reduce or increase the duration of the interval according to the environment .
The easiest circadian rhythms to notice are those linked to wakefulness and rest and eating patterns . A person usually always feels sleepy or hungry at a similar time, since various mechanisms are triggered in their body by circadian rhythms. If a human being always eats lunch at 12 , it is possible that every day he begins to feel hungry as this time approaches.
The hours of sleep and wakefulness are regulated by the circadian rhythm.
The alterations
Changes or interruptions in circadian rhythms cause various health disorders. Individuals who suffer from insomnia and cannot fall asleep at their usual times, or who experience the disorder known as jet lag when traveling for many hours by plane, face different problems in their body.
In this context, we speak of circadian rhythm disorders to define the asynchrony that occurs between the phases of wakefulness and sleep in relation to the geophysical day/ night cycle of our planet and the moments in which we have obligations such as attending work. or to a study center, for example. One of the consequences of insomnia is daytime sleepiness , which can have a very serious impact on daily life, such as problems concentrating, irritability above normal and depression .
Lack of sleep at night can significantly negatively impact our social activities and cause job loss or school failure, among other consequences. Therefore, at the first signs of daytime sleepiness it is recommended to seek professional help immediately.
Types of circadian rhythm disorder
Types of circadian rhythm disorder include:
- Phase advancement : with the passage of time, especially after sixty years of age, human beings begin to show a very particular pattern with respect to sleep hours, which is characterized by going to sleep earlier than before and Consequently, also waking up early .
- Phase delay : it is a syndrome that is distinguished by the inability to start sleeping at the usual time or at the desired time, as well as the great difficulty in getting up in the morning and complying with the schedules imposed by obligations. When continuing to sleep is not an option, this results in a decreased sleep period.
- Irregularity of the sleep-wake rhythm : this is a very disordered distribution of the periods of sleep and wakefulness, throughout the 24 hours. Although the amount of total sleep is usually normal, the problem is that it is fragmented and dispersed throughout the day and night, which has a negative impact on performance throughout the day. Naps are usually numerous and last several hours.