Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Often people who work shifts are not able to sleep on a regular schedule. Many people who work nontraditional hours, such as nurses, labor union workers, 24-hour retail employees and emergency service personnel, can experience shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). Modalert 200mg helps shift workers for stay awake. SWSD occurs when a person’s circadian rhythms are disrupted by working night or early morning shifts.

Circadian rhythms are the body’s internal clock that signals when it is time to feel sleepy or alert. They are dependent on light; when the sun is shining, the body produces the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin, and when there is no sunlight present, the body produces the wake-promoting hormone cortisol. People with SWSD often do not produce melatonin at the proper times, and this leads to drowsiness and fatigue.

When SWSD becomes chronic, the symptoms can interfere with a person’s daily activities. Drowsiness can lead to missed work and can decrease a person’s ability to focus on tasks while they are awake. It can also lead to irritability, depression and low energy. Shift workers can also fall into a type of microsleep while at work that can cause accidents or mistakes that threaten the safety of their coworkers and customers.

People who suffer from SWSD are at risk for a variety of health problems, including obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. They may also be at higher risk for gastrointestinal issues, ulcers and metabolic syndrome. They are also at increased risk of car accidents and workplace injuries due to drowsy driving.

A doctor can diagnose SWSD by assessing a patient’s sleeping habits, asking questions about their symptoms and observing them in their daily lives. They will also likely ask for a sleep diary and/or a test called actigraphy to monitor the amount of sleep a patient gets.

A physician can recommend lifestyle changes to improve a person’s quality of sleep, including changing the timing of meals and snacks, using blackout curtains to prevent morning sunlight from streaming into bedrooms, and taking naps during the day when possible. They can also prescribe medication Modafinil Australia to help manage sleep disturbances or drowsiness.