Adequate sleep is a key factor in achieving both good physical and mental health. Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD) is a condition that results from working atypical shifts (i.e. other than the typical 9 am to 5 pm schedule). Individuals who manifest SWSD usually complain of trouble sleeping, excessive sleepiness and fatigue which interfere with their overall functioning & productivity.
Our body has a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep–wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours called the circadian rhythm. A disturbed circadian rhythm results in undesirable health consequences like anxiety, depression, poor physical and mental health and eventually an impaired quality of life.
When an individual works outside of the typical 9 am to 5 pm hours it is called shift work. This schedule could mean working during nights or early mornings. Individuals working at these odd hours are susceptible to numerous health issues.
A higher prevalence of insomnia and mental disorders is found in shift workers as compared to non-shift workers which occurs because of the disturbance of circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm disturbance also causes hormonal disturbance of several hormones, including melatonin and cortisol, thus leading to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Shift workers have increased white blood cell counts compared to non-shift workers, which can lower immunity. All these physiological disturbances affect a person's daily functioning.
This disruption is a risk factor for multiple health complications like breast cancer, T2DM, obesity, hypertension, MetS, Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), stroke, acute respiratory infections, gastrointestinal tract problems (GIT), menstrual problems, back pain, headaches, anxiety, mood disorders and even depression.
The poor sleep that results from disruption of circadian rhythms can lead to cognitive impairment and work under-performance; this can be overcome with good social support and a supportive work environment. Preventive measures to reduce psychosocial stress at work places such as family support, social support and better work environment can decrease sleep problems and a worker can then be more efficient and productive during working hours.
There is often a bidirectional relationship between poor sleep and stress. Stressful situations can cause disturbed sleep, and such people are prone for developing insomnia in the future. The nature of the occupation, strenuous physical exertion, and continuous mental stress in the workplace can disturb sleep or may increase sleep problems in the insomniac population.
Longer working hours, improper sleep, less physical activity, and shift work leads to lower back pain among employees who spend significant amounts of their workday driving, such as truck drivers, letter carriers, or even police officers. Disturbed sleep can cause drowsiness, which is a major cause of road traffic accidents. People who work overtime and do not get proper sleep are at increased risk of occupational hazards, and these hazards could be exposure to different chemicals, solvents, fumes, and dust. Thus, working longer hours in this environment can not only disturb people's sleep but also compromise their health.
References:
Effect of Shift Work on Sleep, Health, and Quality of Life of Health-care Workers - PMC (no date). Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5932908/ (Accessed: 14 May 2022).
Jehan, S. et al. (2017) ‘Shift Work and Sleep: Medical Implications and Management’, Sleep medicine and disorders : international journal, 1(2). doi: 10.15406/smdij.2017.01.00008.
Shift Work and Sleep: Medical Implications and Management - PMC (no date). Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836745/ (Accessed: 14 May 2022).
