DOHA: Maintaining regular sleeping patterns during Ramadan is an important step to ‘re-adjusting’ after the holy month, according to Dr Abul Aziz Al Hashmi, Consultant of Pulmonary Diseases and Sleep Disorders at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
“Due to the unique nature of Ramadan, many people experience frequent and irregular sleeping times during the day because they stay awake during the night to perform acts of worship or sometimes to socialise,” said Dr Al Hashmi.
He said the problem can be compared with circadian rhythm (a daily rhythmic activity cycle) sleep disorders usually experienced by those travelling eastwards or across several time zones when a passenger may suffer from circadian dysrhythmia, commonly known as jet lag.
Dr Al Hashmi said this is usually caused by the change in their bed time and wake-up schedule, which can increase the risk of developing biological clock disorder such as delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) or melatonin secretion rhythm disorder.
When people change their sleeping and waking-up pattern, they may also suffer sleepiness, headache and mood swings,”
he said. “Overeating, particularly eating high calorie sugary or fatty foods, weight gain, dyspepsia (indigestion), gastro-esophageal reflux or colon disorders can also increase the risk of developing sleep disorders during Ramadan.
Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland (a small endocrine gland) in the brain. It helps regulate other hormones and maintains the body’s circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is an internal 24-hour ‘clock’ that plays a critical role in deciding when one falls asleep and wakes up,” he said, adding “when it is dark, the body produces more melatonin but its production drops when it is daylight. Being exposed to bright lights or watching TV in the evening can disrupt the body’s normal melatonin cycles and causes insomnia.”
However, Dr Al Hashmi said a person can strike a balance between sleeping and performing religious duties or socialising during Ramadan by adjusting their sleeping time schedule.
“People who have a history of poor sleeping patterns may suffer insomnia and chronic biological clock disorders after Ramadan, in addition to difficulties in adjusting their reversed sleeping pattern, thus hindering their normal work or study-time schedules,” he said.
Dr Al Hashmi advised people to gradually re-adjust their sleep and wake-up schedule over several days, especially within the last days of Eid holidays, ahead of their return to work or school to help re-synchronise the body’s biological clock. He suggested that exposure to strong light for at least one hour after waking up is a helpful way of restoring normal sleep schedule. THE PENINSULA
