Shift Work Sleep Disorder Symptoms
Who Experience Shift Work Sleep Disorder?
Not all shift workers will experience shift work sleep disorder, however people that are doing rotating shifts, extended and night shifts are amongst the once mostly affected by this condition.
The work schedule of these people are going against the body natural rhythm, so people find it difficult adjusting to completely different sleep-wake cycle.
There are a few symptoms of this disorder that are very common. The most common two are insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms include difficulty concentrating, lack of energy and headaches.
Insomnia, Anxiety and Even Depression.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder when you have troubles falling and remaining asleep. When you wake up you are not refreshed, and feel tired all day. This condition can be short-term or can become chronic, depending why this is happening. It can also slow reaction times, people might feel anxiety and even depression.
Excessive daytime sleepiness can happen as a result of irregular sleep patterns, and it is a symptom of a number of sleep disorders, including shift work sleep disorder. The best solution to this is to get enough sleep, however there is a medicine called Provigil, that can fight excessive sleepiness, and as a result to restore natural rhythm in our bodies.
Difficulty concentrating is when your ability to focus on something is decreased. It can result in difficulty staying awake, become overactive, and it can be happening as a result of a number of sleep disorder, such as shift work sleep disorder mentioned above.
Lack of energy can also be caused by a number of disorders, so it is important to identify what exactly is causing it. In most cases it is a normal response to things like:
- Poor quality sleep
- Stress
- Lack of exercise
- Working too much or doing irregular hours
Usually it would get resolved when an adequate sleep, good nutrition and sleep management have been taken care of.
If you experience any of these symptoms, and you are a shift worker, it is worth seeing a doctor in order to get a proper sleep and get your condition treated.
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