Healthcare, manufacturing, and other sectors heavily depend on a 24-hour workforce to keep operations running smoothly. Since so many people work nontraditional shifts, shift work disorder is on the rise. The purpose of this article is to discuss shift work disorder.
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Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment (NIGMS, 2012). Shift work disorder, also known as shift work sleep disorder (SWSD), is a health problem that occurs when the body's natural circadian rhythm goes directly against the employee's work schedule. This disruption of the circadian rhythm results in excessive drowsiness during daylight hours and difficulty sleeping during the night hours.
Shift workers can normally adjust to working nontraditional shifts if the change is permanent. For instance, even though a night shift worker is sleeping during the daylight hours, this person's circadian rhythm is usually able to adjust to the new sleep/wake pattern. However, shift workers who must constantly rotate from days to nights tend to suffer more severe disturbances with their personal circadian rhythms than people who strictly work the night shift.
The most common signs and symptoms associated with shift work disorder include insomnia, excessive drowsiness, mood problems, headaches, lethargy, inability to concentrate, appetite disturbances, irritability, sleepiness, and diminished energy. If allowed to progress, shift work disorder may eventually lead to workplace errors, traffic accidents, illnesses, and lost productivity.
Shift work disorder is treatable as long as the shift worker is ready to make his or her sleep schedule the primary issue at home. People who work the night shift should make an effort to limit the number of shifts worked to no more than four in a row. Moreover, night shift workers need a minimum of two days off in a row prior to returning to work. If possible, shift workers should avoid rotating shifts altogether, especially if the rotation involves a day-to-night schedule.
Practicing strict sleep hygiene is also very important. The shift worker may be helped by using blackout drapes when attempting to sleep during the daylight hours. In addition, adhering to the same bedtime on a daily basis greatly helps. The shift worker should create a sleep schedule, stick to it, aim for seven to eight hours of sleep per day, and avoid ingesting substances such as alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine within a few hours of the scheduled bedtime. Furthermore, getting adequate sleep during one's days off helps tremendously.
Shift work disorder remains a challenging health problem for the masses of workers who do their parts to maintain our 24-hour society. However, plenty of diligence, preparation, and coping skills will go a long way in conquering this disorder.
