If you work at night or have an unusual sleep schedule for another reason, you have an increased risk of developing a shift work disorder. This frustrating condition produces feelings of sleepiness while you're awake and insomnia when you try to sleep, leading to severe sleep deprivation and other health effects. Fortunately, treatment is available, and it starts with raising awareness about the problem.

What You Need to Know About Shift Work Disorders

1. Definition

A shift work disorder causes poor or reduced sleep due to a schedule that conflicts with your body's circadian rhythm. Most people are naturally wakeful during the day, so staying up at night can conflict with your body's tendencies. This problem is complicated by factors like natural light and noise that make it even harder to sleep during the day. Shift work often causes physical difficulties, and the distinction between a normal response to a late work schedule and a shift work disorder isn't always clear.

2. Symptoms

Insomnia while trying to sleep during the day and fatigue while trying to work at night are defining symptoms of a shift work disorder. Patients who experience the condition even might fall asleep on the job. Daily sleep problems lead to reduced mental acuity, irritability, and clumsiness. A prolonged disorder has been associated with an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and digestive problems.

3. Treatment Possibilities

The best long-term treatment for a shift work disorder is a return to daytime working hours. However, other measures can help in the short term. A nap lasting 10–30 minutes just before work or during breaks can help you feel refreshed. Bright light therapy can adjust your body's circadian rhythm to a more convenient timeline. A melatonin supplement can help you sleep more soundly during the day, and caffeine or a prescription drug might keep you alert at night.

If you're having difficulty maintaining a nighttime work schedule, you don’t need to endure the resulting sleep problems. Talk with a doctor or sleep specialist about ways to get the rest you need.

Glacier Headache & Sleep Medicine in Kalispell, MT, offers diagnosis and treatment for sleeping disorders to patients throughout the Flathead Valley area. Their skilled and compassionate team will provide shift work disorder therapy to help you function well on the job and get the rest you need at home. To schedule an appointment, call (406) 752-1729 or contact them online. Check their Google+ page for more advice from the clinic.