Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) is a type of sleep disorder diagnosed in people who work evening shifts or night shifts for a long time. It is common in the following groups:
- People who have early-morning shifts
- People who have night shifts
- People who have overnight shifts
- People who have rotating shifts
Its symptoms are similar to insomnia and include
- Difficulty in falling asleep at particular times
- Excessive sleepiness (feeling sleepy even after getting seven to eight hours of sleep) when at work
- Decreased attention span
- Headache
- Lack of energy
- Fatigue
- Frequent episodes of a bad mood
- Irritability
- Acidity
Nearly 2 out of every 10 full-time employed Americans do work in shifts. However, not every one of them is suffering from SWSD. The condition is found to affect 1 to 4 out of every 10 workers who work night/evening shifts.
How is shift work disorder diagnosed?
A person may have trouble adjusting to a new shift that falls between 7 pm and 6 am. For a few weeks, the person does not face any sleep issues after getting seven to eight hours of sleep during any time of the day. The problem starts gradually. If after several weeks, the person is unable to sleep well, then it could be shift work sleep disorder. On average, people with these disorders sleep three-four hours less than those working regular day shifts. For shift work disorder to be diagnosed, its symptoms must be present for at least continuous three months. It is also possible that the symptoms may improve after resuming dayshift work.
If working outside the normal working hours (dayshift) is taking a severe toll on sleep, it is recommended to consult a sleep medicine specialist. Sleep medicine specialists are specialized doctors who can diagnose and treat sleep disorders. They conduct tests, such as sleep studies, and evaluate the patient’s sleep diaries (logging) to diagnose shift work sleep disorder.
How do you treat shift work sleep disorder?
Once the doctor diagnoses shift work sleep disorder, they may
- Advise the patient to expose themselves to artificial bright light during certain times of the day.
- Prescribe certain sleep pills so that the patient can get adequate rest after their working hours.
- Prescribe pills that help stay awake during shifts.
Here are a few tips that can help deal with shift work sleep disorder
- If possible, take a nap while working night shifts.
- Try to maintain the same sleep schedule on all days of the entire week including the weekends.
- Avoid taking caffeine three to four hours before the scheduled sleep time.
- Try to sleep in a dark room and avoid exposure to bright light.
- Make sure others do not disturb during sleep time. Instruct family members to not make any noise, display “do not disturb” signboard on the door, etc.
QUESTION
Why do we sleep? See AnswerReferences
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Shift Work – Overview. http://sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/shift-work
Pacheco D. Shift Work Disorder: What It Is, What Causes It, and How It Can Be Diagnosed and Treated. Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/shift-work-disorder/
Pacheco D. Shift Work Disorder: What It Is, What Causes It, and How It Can Be Diagnosed and Treated. Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/shift-work-disorder/
Complete List
Top What Are the Symptoms of Shift Work Sleep Disorder Related Articles
Insomnia Slideshow
What is insomnia? Insomnia by definition is trouble falling or staying asleep. Insomnia causes are varied. Learn 10 tips on how to get a good night's sleep and avoid sleep disorders such as insomnia.
20 Tips to Beat Insomnia
Good sleep hygiene leads to better sleep. Avoid insomnia and sleep better by minimizing stress, exercising, and taking proper naps. Learn the health benefits of good sleep. Discover how pets, allergies, electronics, and other distractions can rob you of a good night's sleep.
doxylamine
Doxylamine is an over-the-counter sedative medication used as an insomnia sleep aid and an antihistamine drug used for allergies, hay fever, the common cold, and pregnancy nausea and vomiting. Side effects may include rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), palpitations, upper abdominal pain (epigastric pain), diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite (anorexia), dry mouth (xerostomia), dryness of mucous membranes, painful urination (dysuria), urinary retention, headache, disorientation, drowsiness, dizziness, vertigo, paradoxical central nervous system (CNS) stimulation, blurred vision, and double vision (diplopia). Doxylamine is safe to use when pregnant. Use with caution while breastfeeding.Edluar (zolpidem tartrate)
Edluar is a prescription sleep medication used to treat insomnia (trouble falling asleep) in adults. Serious side effects of Edluar include getting out of bed while not being fully awake and doing an activity that you do not know you are doing, abnormal thoughts and behavior, memory loss, anxiety, and severe allergic reactions.estazolam
Estazolam is a medication used for short-term management of insomnia characterized by difficulty in falling asleep, frequent awakening in the night and/or waking up extremely early in the morning. Do not use estazolam in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Benzodiazepines, including estazolam have a high potential for abuse, misuse, and addiction. Common side effects of estazolam include drowsiness (somnolence), diminished body movement (hypokinesia), dizziness, abnormal coordination, nervousness, hangover, confusion, anxiety, depression, abnormal thinking, abnormal dreams, headache, weakness (asthenia), feeling unwell (malaise), lower extremity pain, and others.
Sleep Disorders: Foods That Help Sleep or Keep You Awake
Need more shut-eye? Your late-night cravings could be keeping you from a good night’s sleep. Should you drink green tea before bed? Learn about the snacks that raise melatonin, your sleep hormone, through tryptophan, and find out why whole-grain and high-protein dinners might help you sleep better.
How Can I Cure Insomnia Fast? 15 Tips
Insomnia is the medical term for the inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep not just for one night but from several days to months. Nearly 35 out of every 100 people suffer from insomnia.
How Does Sleep Affect Your Heart?
Sleep is an important part of your body's functions. Getting too little or too much sleep can have a negative impact on your heart.
Insomnia
Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of difficulty falling asleep; waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep; waking up too early in the morning; or unrefreshing sleep. Secondary insomnia is the most common type of insomnia. Treatment for insomnia include lifestyle changes, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication.
Suffer From Insomnia Quiz
Insomnia affects all age groups, and is the most common sleep disorder in the world. There also seems to be a link between depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Learn more about insomnia with this quiz.melatonin
Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain and is also a synthetic dietary supplement used to improve nighttime sleep in people with insomnia and treat other conditions such as jet lag, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, nicotine withdrawal, winter depression, prevention of cluster headache, migraine headache, cancer (as an adjunct therapy), and others. Common side effects of melatonin include headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, abdominal cramps, disruption of circadian rhythm, daytime sleepiness the next day, daytime fatigue, irritability, transient depression, and feeling of unease (dysphoria) in depressed persons. Avoid use if pregnant or breastfeeding.modafinil
Modafinil is a drug prescribed for the treatment of excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. The most common side effects of modafinil include headache, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia. Do not take modafinil if pregnant and consult your doctor before taking if breastfeeding.
Insomnia Treatment (Sleep Aids and Stimulants)
Insomnia is difficulty in falling or staying asleep, the absence of restful sleep, or poor quality of sleep. Insomnia is a symptom and not a disease. The most common causes of insomnia are medications, psychological conditions, environmental changes, and stressful events. Treatments may include non-drug treatments, over-the-counter medicines, and/or prescription medications.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea (OSA), and a mixture of central and obstructive apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep. OSA is caused by the collapse of the airway during sleep. OSA is diagnosed and evaluated through patient history, physical examination and polysomnography. There are many complications related to obstructive sleep apnea. Treatments are surgical and non-surgical.
Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, and More
Learn about the different types of sleep/wake disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea. Explore the symptoms, causes, tests and treatments of sleep disorders.suvorexant
Suvorexant is a sedative medication used to treat insomnia, characterized by difficulty in falling and/or staying asleep at night. Suvorexant promotes sleep by reducing arousal and wakefulness. Do not use suvorexant to treat patients with narcolepsy. Suvorexant can worsen depression and cause suicidal ideation. Common side effects of suvorexant include headache, drowsiness (somnolence), dizziness, abnormal dreams, upper respiratory tract infections, cough, diarrhea, and dry mouth. Consult your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.
What Are the Five Types of Insomnia?
The five types of insomnia are as follows: acute insomnia, chronic insomnia, onset insomnia, maintenance insomnia, and behavioral insomnia of childhood.
What Causes Insomnia?
Insomnia is defined as repeated difficulty with sleep initiation, maintenance, consolidation, or quality that occurs despite adequate time and opportunity for sleep and results in some form of daytime impairment. There are three types of insomnia.Xywav (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium oxybates)
Xywav is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of narcolepsy in adults and children 7 years of age or older. Serious side effects of Xywav include breathing problems, mental health problems, and sleepwalking.