Shift Work - Disturbances Of Sleep Timing: Sleep Disorders

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Shift work

More than 20% of American workers — including health care workers, police officers, security guards, and transit workers — are on the evening or night shift. About 60%–70% of shift workers experience sleep disturbances. These people fall asleep on the job two to five times more often than day-shift workers do. Sleepiness can be catastrophic for people in these vital roles. Sleep-deprived physicians, for example, make a greater number of errors than their better-rested colleagues, and it's common for fatigue to play a role in overnight rail, plane, truck, and maritime accidents.

Shift workers' sleep disorder can be eased somewhat by incorporating scheduled breaks, by rotating shifts from day to evening to night rather than the other way around, or by maintaining the same schedule seven days a week. Shift workers can also benefit from practicing good sleep hygiene (see "Tips for a better night's sleep"). They should reserve the bedroom for sleep and sex, keep their bedroom cool and comfortable, relax before falling asleep, and maintain a regular routine for preparing for bed. Dark curtains or eyeshades can keep daylight out, and running a fan can help block external noise. Shift workers need to enlist the help of family members to get enough sleep while maintaining a schedule at odds with the rest of the world. The most successful shift workers are those who block out time for sleep in advance and then are vigilant about protecting their sleep blocks from outside intrusions. Light therapy is sometimes recommended to help people get used to a new schedule, as is the short-term use of sleep medications.

Last updated:	January 23, 2007