According to the doctor of the drifting station "North Pole-42," Andrey Lebedev, the prolonged absence of sunlight negatively affects human circadian rhythms. This leads to a decrease in serotonin levels and an increase in melatonin, which in turn makes sleep unpredictable and chaotic. These conclusions were voiced in an interview with RIA Novosti.
In most regions, the polar night ended in mid-January; however, at the North Pole, it continues until mid-March. Polar explorers in high latitudes have to adapt to conditions where the sun does not rise above the horizon for six months.
Lebedev explained that the complete absence of sunlight disrupts natural biorhythms: a lack of serotonin combined with an excess of melatonin causes people to fall asleep and wake up at different times, leading to a buildup of fatigue.
Although sleep specialists recommend adhering to a strict sleep schedule, in practice, this proves to be quite challenging, especially for expeditions like drifting stations. Changes in the direction and speed of drift make the daily routine unstable.
Additionally, working on a shift schedule also affects biorhythms. In such cases, there may be a need for artificial sleep induction.
“In such situations, sleeping pills can be used, but in strictly limited doses: a maximum of 1-3 times. After a few days of taking them, the body begins to adapt, and a person can fall asleep on their own. If the need arises again, the course can be repeated,” the doctor added.
Lebedev noted that the polar day is easier to cope with than the polar night. The main difficulty lies in falling asleep in constant light, and this can be resolved by using thick curtains that effectively block out light.
