Introduction
Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD) is a problem that occurs among people working at night or with unusual schedules. This can interfere with their quality of sleep.
Individuals with Shift Work Sleep Disorder may feel extremely fatigued during the daytime hours, finding it difficult either to remain alert or to fall asleep at all. It is essential to comprehend how SWSD affects human beings, including methods for dealing with it.
The Sleep Foundation provides explanations about how widespread SWSD is as well as its impact on health. According to the Sleep Foundation, 10% to 40% of people who work in shifts suffer from SWSD with insomnia and excessive sleepiness during their wakeful hours being its most prominent symptoms. It occurs mostly among healthcare professionals, emergency responders and those involved in manufacturing industries.
What is Shift Work Sleep Disorder?
A shift work sleep disorder occurs when shifts create chaos in your body’s sleeping patterns. The human body has an inbuilt clock, which is known as circadian rhythms, that acts as a guide for our sleeping and waking hours.
When you work at night or have ever-changing shifts, this particular instrument becomes a bit messed up, hence making it impossible for one to evade sleep during daytime and feel recharged when awake again later that night – all due to Healthline elaborating upon SWSD, including its safety and well-being effects.
Read More: 5 Types of Sleep Disorders Causes & Treatment
What are the symptoms of shift work sleep disorder?
People who have Shift Work Sleep Disorder may experience some of these problems:
Sleepiness can lead to serious accidents at work and beyond. It’s thought to have contributed to major disasters like Chernobyl, the 1979 nuclear plant incident in Pennsylvania, and the 1989 Exxon spill. SWSD symptoms should be taken seriously, as they can cause accidents if not managed properly.
Causes of Shift Work Sleep Disorder
This disorder occurs due to the discrepancy between work hours and the body’s sleep schedule.
The common causes are as follows:
Can shift work sleep disorder be prevented?
Healthcare organizations and workers worldwide struggle to prevent Shift Work Disorder (SWD). DSM V defines SWD as insomnia or excessive drowsiness caused by working during sleep hours.
Many shift workers have trouble adjusting their sleep habits, causing these concerns. SWD affects 28%–52% of shift workers, according to research. SWD contributors include age, gender, sleep, and anxiety.
Organizational issues like night shifts and sleep shortages enhance risk. This research examined how well a workplace health promotion program prevents SWD in shift nurses.
The data shows the distribution of shift work experience among a group of nurses, with percentages for females and males.
For those with less than 5 years of shift work, 3.9% are female and 2.0% are male. Nurses with 5-10 years of experience make up 5.0% of females and 5.7% of males.
Those with 11-15 years include 12.8% of females and 6.3% of males. Nurses with 16-20 years of experience are 20.3% female and 18.3% male. For 21-25 years, 25.3% are female and 29.9% are male.
Those with 26-30 years of shift work account for 23.1% of females and 27.4% of males. Lastly, 9.6% of females and 10.4% of males have more than 31 years of shift work experience.
Treatments of Shift Work Sleep Disorder
Medical Treatments for Shift Work Sleep Disorder
Lifestyle Changes to Improve Sleep
Getting Professional Assistance
What Are the Chances That Shift Work Will Cause A Sleeping Disorder?
Shift work sleep disorder is common. It affects 10% to 40% of people who work nontraditional shifts for their job.
Numerous people who do shift work have insomnia and other problems associated with it. Studies indicate that many shift workers have trouble getting enough sleep or becoming awake during their shifts.
Human beings are limited by health and have limited resources for prevention.
How Shift Work Sleep Disorder Affects Your Body?
“The research is consistent and powerful,” Zhou says. “Working and sleeping during hours misaligned with natural light for extended periods of time is not likely to be healthy for you.”
This disorder leads to various problems in the body:
Conclusion
Managing Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD) is crucial for maintaining health, especially for those with irregular work hours. SWSD disrupts your body’s sleep-wake cycle, leading to fatigue and other health issues.
To manage it, use medications like Modalert 100, Modawake 200, and Waklert 50 as prescribed by your doctor. Additionally, improve your sleep environment by keeping your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool, and avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed.
Healthy eating and regular exercise also support better rest. Consulting a sleep specialist can provide personalized strategies. Adjusting work hours to better align with your natural sleep patterns and establishing a consistent bedtime can further enhance sleep quality.