Shift Work sleep disorder

   Tweet   

---

Have you ever thought about the people like fire fighters, police officers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, call centre employees, office cleaning staff, etc? Do you know what they have in common? The commonality between them is the odd hours and varying hours they work. Due to the fluctuating shift work they do, they all are at risk of shift work sleep disorder.

If you into a profession due to which you have to work in odd shift which keeps on rotating, you are also at risk. The people who work in regular daytime shift cannot relate to this condition and often taken this for granted.
There are about 20% of population in the world who work in shifts and are at the risk of this type of sleep disorders. Well, the risk is present, but not all the people are suffering from this disorder. People who are deprived of proper sleep often lack memory and ability to focus which causes these workers to get irritated or depressed easily. The social relationships and commitments also suffer for these people.

Tips to avoid the Shift Work Sleep Disorders

1. Limit the night shifts you do and take routine day offs in between. This can make up with the lost sleep due to odd hours.
2. Do not have frequent shift rotations. You can also think of rotating from day to evening to night rather than the other way round.
3. Do not opt for work locations away from home so as to keep the commute time to a minimal.
4. Keep the workplace well lightened and aerated. Even if you are working in night shift, the bright lights can help you adjust the circadian rhythm to ensure better shift fitment.
5. Follow bedtime rituals and try to keep a regular sleep schedule—even on weekends.
6. Go to sleep as soon as possible after work.

Risk of Shift Work Sleep Disorders

There are enhanced risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and gastrointestinal diseases in people who work in rotating shifts and odd hours.