Alternating work shifts can cause a sleep disorder associated with your “internal clock”. This clock makes you feel sleepy or alert at regular times every day. Your internal clock tells your body when it is time to sleep and when it is time to be awake. Among other factors, your clock is “set” by your exposure to sunlight.
There are several types of shift work schedules. These include the following:
Night shifts
Early-morning shifts
Rotating shifts
This sleep problem may cause you to be very tired and can hinder your work performance. This condition usually lasts as long as an individual has a shift schedule. The disorder is treatable with behavioral modification, napping strategies, appropriate timing of light exposure and medication if needed. Once you begin sleeping at a normal time again, the problems tend to go away. In some people, the sleep problems may continue even after the shift work schedule has ended.
Women and Sleep
Are you pregnant and snore? Did you know that you may be putting your baby at risk? To read more about pregnancy related sleep issues you can read some of the articles below:
Snoring, Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Growth Retardation of the Fetus
Sleep disordered breathing and pregnancy
Sleep disordered breathing in women of childbearing age and pregnancy
A 26-Year-Old Pregnant Woman with Fatigue and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Teens and Sleep
Sleep is food for the brain. During sleep, important body functions and brain activity occur. Skipping sleep makes you more susceptible to accident, injury or illness. Sleep deprivation may cause you to fell moody and impair daily function. Sleepiness can make it hard to get along with your family and friends, hurt your scores on school exams as well as hinder performance on the court and on the field. Drowsiness and falling asleep at the wheel causes more than 100,000 car crashes every year. Sleeping less than six hours nightly may impair your driving similar to driving drunk.
