According to Andrei Lebedev, a doctor at the drifting station "North Pole-42" in the Arctic, the prolonged polar night has a significant impact on sleep quality. As reported by RIA Novosti, the lack of sunlight disrupts circadian rhythms: serotonin levels in the body decrease, while melatonin levels increase, leading to erratic sleep.
In most areas, the polar night ended in mid-January; however, at the North Pole, it continues until mid-March. Polar explorers, being at high latitudes, face the challenge of the sun not rising above the horizon for six months.
"The complete absence of sunlight disrupts the circadian rhythm: this leads to a deficiency of serotonin and an excess of melatonin. As a result, sleep becomes unpredictable, and a person starts to fall asleep and wake up at different times, which disrupts the usual biorhythm and accumulates fatigue," noted Lebedev.
According to him, sleep specialists recommend adhering to a strict sleep schedule, but in practice, this is quite difficult, especially in the conditions of drifting stations, where constant changes in direction and speed make the daily routine unstable.
Moreover, working in shifts also introduces its own adjustments to biorhythms, which sometimes requires artificially inducing sleep.
"While sleeping pills can be used, they should be taken strictly according to a scheme: 1-2-3 times as needed. After a few days of use, the body adapts and begins to fall asleep on its own. In case of repeated disruptions, this method can be used again," the doctor added.
Lebedev also noted that it is easier to cope with the polar day than with the polar night. The main problem—falling asleep in constant light—can be easily solved: it is sufficient to use thick curtains to block out the light.
