This disorder commonly affects people who rotate regularly from daytime to afternoon or early evening shifts or who work at night. Individuals who work early morning shifts beginning between the hours of 3- and 7 a.m. are also prone to this problem. Symptoms go beyond occasional sleeplessness and affect daily life.
Circadian Rhythm Affected
Light and dark tell the body when it’s time to stay awake or to sleep. Individuals suffering from SWSD have a recurrent pattern of sleep interruption, usually caused by working at non-traditional times when most of the immediate world is asleep. The result is insomnia or excessive sleepiness because the body’s internal clock is contradicting the circumstances.
SWSD Symptoms
In addition to excessive sleepiness or insomnia, individuals may also exhibit the following symptoms:
- difficulty concentrating
- headaches
- lack of energy
- difficulties with personal relationships
- irritability or depression
Diagnosing SWSD
Not every shift worker experiences this problem. Sleep Education recommends that those who suspect that they may have SWSD should ask themselves the following questions:
- Is this problem due to a schedule that requires working during normal sleeping hours?
- Has this work-related sleep problem occurred for at least one month?
- Is the sleepiness and insomnia hurt social, family, or work life?
If the answer to each of these questions is yes, then SWSD is a possibility.
It is important, however, to rule out other conditions that may cause sleep problems. These include:
- another sleep disorder
- a medical condition
- medication use
- a mental health disorder
- substance abuse
Keeping a sleep diary detailing all insomnia and sleepiness problems for at least two weeks can aid in diagnosis. Doctors, however, may order an overnight sleep test or a multiple sleep latency test to pinpoint the exact cause.
Also called a polysomnogram, an overnight sleep study will chart brain waves, heart rate, breathing, and arm and leg movements. A multiple sleep latency test records brainwaves during daytime naps. It measures how fast someone falls asleep and what kind of sleep occurs.
Decreasing Effects of SWSD
Once SWSD is diagnosed, sufferers can do several things to help themselves cope. WebMD suggests darkening bedrooms by using blackout drapes, wearing a sleep mask, and putting a towel over digital devices. Earaplugs can be used to block sounds, while white noise machines can be used to block distracting outdoor sound.
A healthy diet may also promote sleep, as well as avoiding alcohol or caffeine in the hours leading up to sleep. Exercise can also promote sound sleep. Other possible treatments include taking a supplement such as melatonin, which promotes sleep, or short-term use of sleeping pills. Phototherapy prior to a work shift may help sufferers stay awake.
Importance of Alleviating Symptoms
Working a non-traditional shift is known to increase levels of stress. Sleeplessness increases that stress and can lead to accidents as well as a number of different health problems. Shift workers have an increased risk of colds and flu, increase risk of breast and prostate cancers, higher cholesterol levels, and increased risk of heart attack and obesity.
Some people may never fully alleviate the symptoms of SWSD, but if sufferers make sure they get at least seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep at a time, as well as making a sleep environment as conducive as possible, they will be better able to cope with the disorder while continuing to work non-traditional hours.
Sources:
MyClevelandClinic.org: What is Shift Work Sleep Disorder?
WebMD: What is Shift Work Sleep Diorder
Washington Unversity Sleep Medicine Center: Shift Work Sleep Disorder
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