Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Overview
Shift work, late‑night screens, or rapid time‑zone changes can desynchronise the body’s master clock, leading to insomnia at night and sleepiness by day.
Health Consequences
Circadian misalignment is strongly linked to metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, and elevated cardiovascular‑disease risk.
Rebis Treatment Approach
Timed bright‑light therapy and melatonin
Chrononutrition (time‑restricted eating)
Behavioural coaching to re‑anchor sleep/wake cues
Connection to Other Health Domains
| System | Untreated Impact | Key Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular & Metabolic |
↑ risk of obesity & type-2 diabetes among shift-workers | Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2023 |
| Hormone Imbalances | Disrupted cortisol, leptin & ghrelin rhythms | Endocrinology 2022 |
| Immune / Chronic Pain | Clock-gene dysregulation heightens inflammation | Front Immunol 2024 |
| Gastrointestinal | Circadian disruption exacerbates IBD flare-ups | Trends Mol Med 2024 review |
Benefits of Treatment
Re‑entraining the clock harmonises hormone release, steadies blood sugar, and soothes gut motility, leading to deeper, more restorative sleep.
Key References:
Shift work and metabolic syndrome systematic review – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37425967/
Circadian clock and inflammatory bowel disease review – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12028002/