5 Common Sleep Problems In Night Shift Workers And How To Manage

Sleep disorders can either happen due to a reason or they can be random. Well, the case in which they’re not random is that of night shift workers. You work when everyone is asleep, there is a risk of sleep problem. But which sleep disorders are common and when to visit a sleep center Silver Spring? Here is everything you need to know.

Night Shift Workers And Sleep Disorders

Night shift workers are those people who work the night shift. It’s ironic because all human beings and living beings for that matter need sleep. So, if someone is working the night shift, then how are they supposed to sleep?

It has been found by recent studies that at least every night shift worker out there has a sleeping disorder that either they are aware of or they don’t know and it’s in the developing stages.

This is bad because you don’t know how your body is affected when you’re not sleeping. You can’t just rely on coffee and energy drinks to keep yourself awake. It is going to make you crash at one point and that is not what you want at all.

This is why knowing the type of disorders you can be at risk of and knowing how to manage the disorder is your only way of escape and staying sane, because it’s not like you don’t need sleep. You do and you need plenty of it to ensure that you’re not tiring your body and brain out, all because of your work and the odd hours.

Sleep Disorders Common In Night Shift Workers

So, now that you know the correlation between sleep and night shifts, the next thing to get into is the list of disorders a night shift worker can suffer from.

Insomnia

One of the most common sleep disorders night shift workers can suffer from is insomnia. Some night shift workers have no problem staying awake for most of the night. While that is okay work-wise, it is not health-wise. You don’t want to stay awake for long periods of time.

Your body and brain need some shut eye and you can’t expect to get any if you’re suffering from insomnia. This is why you need to be careful when you feel like you’re not sleeping much at all because it could mean that you are suffering from insomnia and that is not good.

Hypersomnia

The opposite of insomnia is hypersomnia. It is something that causes you to sleep all the time. You just can’t get your daily quota of sleep in and you will be dozing off all of the time. This is frustrating too, because yes, you do need sleep, but you’re obviously not coming to work just to snooze off in a couple of minutes. That is not how things work.

On top of always sleeping, you won’t be able to get a restful sleep. You will always feel tired as if you haven’t slept at all.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition in which you can stop breathing momentarily. Even though the duration is pretty short, it can still be pretty alarming and scary to think that you can stop breathing during your sleep.

Basically, sleep apnea causes the breathing airways to collapse and you are left with not being able to breathe until the airways expand back to their original condition. This is a very restless sleeping disorder because it can mess with you psychologically and you just won’t be able to go to sleep if you keep thinking that you’ll stop breathing at any moment.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome is defined as a sleeping disorder, in which you can be restless. Your legs and hands will move a lot and you can’t do anything to stop them. This also causes sleep disruption because the restlessness of the leg can jolt you awake and then you can’t go back to sleep.

This is bad and you will get tired of your legs moving so much, to the point where you’re fatigued and just unable to sleep. This disorder can really mess with your circadian rhythm.

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Shift work sleep disorder is a disorder in which people who work odd hours of shifts are affected the most. This can lead to excessive sleeping, snoozing off a lot of the time, and even naps, but the result will be the same. You will be tired and you will feel as though you haven’t had a wink of sleep.

This is bad because you’re urged to stay awake and then you are also battling the urge to just close your eyes and slip into dreamland. This can be really bad for your health and it will make you fatigued and very cranky. So, visit a sleep clinic Bethesda at the earliest.

How To Manage Sleep As A Night Shift Worker?

While dealing with a sleep disorder can be hard, it is not impossible at all. This is why knowing how to manage it is key. Here are some things you can try.

Avoid Constant Shifts

It is better if you don’t make working night shifts a habit. It is better if you can just work a couple of night shifts in a row and then stop. Your brain is an organ of habit. The way you wire it and the way you do things will become routine for the brain, regardless of whether it is good or bad.

So, you want to take into consideration the amount of hours you’re working at night. Try to limit them and you’ll see the results for yourself in the end.

Keep A Routine

This is important and if you don’t want your circadian rhythm to go off the rails, then you need to follow a routine. If you go to sleep right after your shift ends, then you need to keep this routine up.

If you wake up and sleep at a certain time each night, then stick to this routine because it is going to train your brain in the same way. You don’t want things to go haywire just because you can’t follow a routine. A routine will save your life and it will keep you happy, healthy, and most of all alert.

Keep Your Station Bright

When you’re working and you don’t want to fall asleep, then try to keep your workstation as bright as possible. Make it bright with lights so that your brain can be tricked into thinking that it is daytime and you don’t need any sleep.

In this way, you will keep your brain alert and awake and things will be easy to follow when you have a routine. It might be a little hard to get used to in the beginning, but once you do, you will successfully trick your brain. Amazing, isn’t it?

Conclusion

People who work night shifts are at a greater risk of developing sleep disorders and the frustrating part is that it can quickly get aggravated. So, management is key when it comes to keeping your circadian rhythm in check. If you notice sleep issue frequently, see a sleep doctor Frederick.