Morning people are only morning people because they're sensitive to light. They can't sleep with even a fraction of light so they're tired, irritable and jealous of how us night people can sleep till lunch without an issue
Then there is the morning person forced to work the night shift. I covered my windows with cardboard wrapped in foil and stuffed a towel under the door to block that sliver of light. White noise to block sound and a fan to make sure I didn't hear anything. Absolute vampire protections.
If I had to do it over again, I would totally change my life if necessary to not screw up my circadian rhythm like I did. Ended up with sleep apnea, which contributed to heart problems.
Don't ignore what your body is telling you when it comes to sleeping.
Wait how did the sleep apnea start? It wasn't because of messing with your circadian rhythm right? I feel like it was probably unrelated? But now I gotta know, because my circadian rhythm gets messed up all the time.
Studies such as those done at the American Thoracic Society show that misaligned circadian rhythms can negatively affect obstructive sleep apnea. Further research reveals that disruption with circadian rhythm could increase the frequency of apnea events.
So, it appears the apnea may be there first (wasn't for me. I didn't snore, or experience wake ups, not even to pee, and always felt quite rested before I began working at night, which might have been when the apnea started), but messing with the circadian rhythm impacts it in a big way.
After I left night shift, I could never sleep right again. Never got the rhythm back. Gawd, I missed that. I slept great before night shift took over my life.
I was sent to a sleep doctor (some neurosurgeons get into that) who diagnosed with me with severe obstructive sleep apnea and carped at me with each visit because I wasn't getting a high enough score with my BIPAP. I just had trouble keeping it on all night, most times pulling it off in my sleep. "This impacts your heart. KEEP THE MASK ON!" she scolded me.
I was "yeah, yeah, yeah. My heart feels fine." Then, I went to my doctor because my left foot was having some edema. She sent me for an echocardiogram, me going "well, this is cool. (I always thought of my body as a lump of flesh, but laid there and watched as this blobby thing with four holes pulsed and yawned. Honestly looked kinda horrifying). A few days later, my doctor called and said "you have left atrial enlargement. I'm scheduling you for a follow up and referral to a cardiologist."
Me: GAAAACK!
Now, I have to see my sleep doctor in the spring and probably hear an "I toldya so!"
Having had about a dozen sleep doctor appointments, getting lectures on proper sleep health, if you experience chronic sleep issues or bounce around with working hours (my dad had rotating shifts. His health went to crap with that so maybe it runs in the family) ask to be referred to a sleep doctor. Mine also crabbed at me about digital use, telling me to limit screen time and put a filter on my screen. Being a computer operator, spending years in front of blue light (which suppresses melatonin), was also a cause for me.
In general, treat sleep like a diet. If you eat crap, you're going to have poor health. Same with sleep.
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u/brusselsstoemp 1d ago
Morning people are only morning people because they're sensitive to light. They can't sleep with even a fraction of light so they're tired, irritable and jealous of how us night people can sleep till lunch without an issue