In today’s fast moving world where IT and service sectors are on the rise, it is not uncommon to see people engaged in employment involving shift work. We never really sit down and think about all these people who provide us various services, throughout the day, about how difficult it must be for them. Humans are basically diurnal by nature, i.e. they work during the day and sleep at night. So that puts all shift workers at a disadvantage not only socially but also because their circadian rhythms are disturbed and hence they are not only more prone to various sleep disorders, but also to gastrointestinal dysfunction, depression, cardiac diseases and cancer.
But, the most challenging for them is the inability of the circadian system to adjust instantaneously to the changing work shifts, that they have to cope with. Also, their sleep patterns are usually affected, shift workers are known to get 10hours less sleep, per week, then others, primarily due to reduction in REM sleep (deep sleep).
Certain individuals may find it more difficult than the rest to be able to cope with shift work, and hence are more prone to depression and sleep disorders. Certain factors identified to affect the coping are listed below:
- Preexisting gastric problems
- Over 50years of age
- History of psychiatric disorders
- History of sleep disorders
- Working second job for the salary
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- History of substance abuse
- More than four 12hour nightshifts in a row
- First shift starting time earlier than 7 in the morning
- Weekly rotations
- More than 5, third shifts in a row
- Excessive regular overtime
- 12hour shifts involving critical alertness
- 12hour shifts involving heavy physical workload
- Excessive weekend working
- Long commuting hours
- Shifts without appropriate breaks
- Complicated schedules making it difficult to plan ahead.
All those who find the realignment to the new circadian rhythm difficult are likely to suffer from sleep deprivation, down phases thus affecting their mood, wellbeing and work efficiency.
Coping Strategies
- Planned naps
- Caffeine
- Good sleep habits
- Managing the sleep environment
- Exercise
- Light and dark exposure – Bright lights at the workstation and avoiding bright light while returning from work, by wearing sunglasses, tinted glasses of the vehicles etc.
- Activity breaks
- Diets
- Sleep scheduling
- Medications- to be taken only under medical supervision.
All corporate who have shift workers engaged, bear the moral responsibility of educating them about healthy sleep. This should include providing information about the signs and symptoms of the various sleep disorders, and running a health promotion program to promote individual, organizational health and safety benefits.
Dr Shivani Swami
Fellow Sleep Medicine (ISDA)
Fellow Interventional Pulmonology (UK)
Certified in Asthma & Pulmonology
Director & Senior Consultant, Narayana Health Hospital - Jaipur
