|
This is likely a more common problem in the vampire community than most
realize, for one simple reason: Our tendency to sleep in - or even sleep
all day - is very much at odds with having to be up during the day for
school or most professional obligations. Attempting to get sleep AND meet
obligations sometimes means many of us are sleeping at any time we're
not required to be anywhere.
WHAT IS SHIFT WORK SLEEP DISORDER?
Shift work sleep disorder typically happens any time an individual
is scheduled for work during their habitual hours of sleep, frequently
rotating shifts, or irregular work hours. The individual finds it hard
to maintain a normal sleep pattern with the frequent changes and disruptions
of their sleep schedule, and is unable to get refreshing sleep despite
attempts to keep their sleep environment as optimum as possible.
Shift work sleep disorder is especially known among night shift workers
who try to keep a daytime schedule on their off days (and is one of
the reasons keeping the same hours on their days off is recommended
so frequently, even if it's not practical for everyone.)
On a rotating shift, the symptoms may improve after the first week
or two, as the body adjusts. For workplaces that shift schedules on
a weekly basis, this means that workers NEVER thoroughly adjust to one
shift schedule before they have to change to the next. (Thus, it's a
little easier on sleep to move forward to later schedules - days, then
evenings, then overnights, then days again - rather than going backwards.
The forward shift change enables a little bit of "sleeping in"
to compensate.)
Anyone having to be awake and functional at hours conflicting with
their normal sleep patterns HAVE to make sleep a priority in order to
be effective at their jobs or at school.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The symptoms usually include the following:
- Continual need for extra sleep on days off
- Impaired marital relations
- Impaired social relationships
- Irritability
- Reduced alertness / excessive sleepiness
- Reduced perfomance & coordination
Which can have the following consequences:
- Increased rate of accidents
- Increased work-related errors
- Increased sick leave (as people attempt to get enough sleep)
- Increased irritability, mood problems, etc.
If the sleep pattern is changed and disrupted often enough, the individual
will have continual alertness, performance, and coordination issues,
and may be prone to what seems like narcolepsy - dropping off to sleep
without warning - to someone who's not aware of the shift sleep situation.
The stress from the inability to get stable sleep may result in digestive
problems, or aggravate existing digestive complaints. Increased stress
levels may also increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, or aggravate
any existing cardiovascular conditions.
Drug and/or alcohol dependency may occur as the individual attempts
to compensate for the shifting sleep schedules and attempts to force
sleep, or force wakefulness, or both.
HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
Shift Work Sleep Disorder is usually diagnosed by inquiries into the
individual's shift schedule and medical history. Sleep studies are only
required if the source of the sleep disorder is in question, and if
needed, should be done during the shifted sleep period and during the
work period, with a 24hr monitoring system.
The primary diagnostic criteria are:
A) The patient has a primary complaint of insomnia or excessive sleepiness.
B. The primary complaint is temporally associated with a work period
(usually night work) that occurs during the habitual sleep phase.
C. Polysomnography and the MSLT demonstrate loss of a normal sleep-wake
pattern (i.e., disturbed chronobiologic rhythmicity).
D. No medical or mental disorder accounts for the symptoms.
E. The symptoms do not meet criteria for any other sleep disorder producing
insomnia or
Minimal criteria: A plus B
Severity Criteria: Severity is
graded on the amount of sleep deficit, with mild being 1-2 hours of
deficit, moderate being 2-3 hours, and severe being over 3 hours.
HOW IS IT TREATED?
There is no specific treatment for Shift Work Sleep Disorder, but there
are guidelines to minimize the effects:
- Avoid frequently changing shifts
- Avoid long commutes (cuts into sleeping time)
- Avoid prolonged shifts or excess overtime
- Get enough sleep on the days off
- Have 48 hours or more off inbetween work stretches
- Lighting: Use bright light / blue light therapy before work
- Lighting: Keep the lights dim after work to promote sleep.
- Work 5 days or less in a row (if doing 8 hour shifts)
- Work 4 days or less in a row (if doing 12hr shift)
Some or all of these are listed on many sites that suggest options
to deal with Shift Work Sleep Disorder - however, I do recognize that
not all of these listed are practical or easily obtainable - you don't
normally have control over your work schedule, for example, or where
a job is located. You may be forced to take a long distance job if
you've had zero luck finding anything local, or you may be stuck with
a boss who believes in abusing the workers.
NOTES:
Medically, this is interpreted as any person who is working an evening
or overnight shift, or who works rotating shifts, AND who's normal sleep
pattern is to sleep at night - and thus goes back to normal sleep habits
on their days off.
While this is technically true, "shift work" issues can happen
for anyone who's working (or in school, etc.) regularly during hours
their body prefers to sleep. This means that someone with Delayed Sleep
Phase, forced to be awake days, especially early days, will experience
the same issues. Someone with Advanced Sleep Phase, forced to work an
evening or overnight shift, will suffer the same issues.
~SphynxCatVP, September 2010
This site contains articles on various medical
topics; however, no warranty whatsoever is made that any of the articles
are accurate - and even if a statement made about medical matters is
accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms. These
medical articles are provided on a general informational basis only
- nothing on this site should be construed as an attempt to offer or
render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.
Even though the authors may be capable of
doing extensive research, it must be understood that neither SphynxCatVP,
nor the rest of the contributors, are doctors, despite the presence
of any books of the medical profession in the personal libraries of
any of the authors. Any such articles are thusly written, in part or
in whole, by nonprofessionals. Consequently, there is absolutely no
guarantee that any statement contained or cited in an article touching
on medical matters is true, precise, or up-to-date.
At best, you can use the article to strike
up a conversation with your doctor or other medical professional ABOUT
your symptoms, and share any concerns you may have for them to investigate.
The medical information provided by this site is of a general nature
and CANNOT legally be considered a substitute for the advice of a medical
professional.
| 
PDF