How to tell if my tiredness is due to a body clock disorder?

Doctor's Answer

It will be good if you can keep a diary for two weeks and document the periods if your tiredness throughout the day and see if there is a fixed pattern. Consultation with a doctor who has special interest in sleep diosrders would also be useful.

The following disorders are known to be related to disturbances in natural biological rhythms are disturbed:

  • sleep disorders: Disruptions in the body’s natural rhythms can lead to affected sleep, including insomnia.

  • jet lag: A disruption in circadian rhythms when traveling across time zones or overnight.

  • mood disorders: For many patients wuith depression, their sleep is affected. They tend to sleep much later (phase delay). There are medications that can restore mood and sleep.

  • shift work disorders: When a person works outside the typical work day it causes changes in typical circadian rhythms.

Biological rhythm disorders can affect a person’s health and feelings of well-being. Some of the effects include:

  • anxiety

  • fatigue, tiredness, drop in mental alertness

  • daytime sleepiness

  • depression

  • lower performance at work

  • being more accident-prone

  • increased risk for weight gain

Ask any health question for free

I’m not so sure about a procedure...

Ask Icon Ask a Question

Join Human

Sign up now for a free Human account to get answers from specialists in Singapore.

Sign Up

Get The Pill

Be healthier with our Bite-sized health news straight in your inbox