We spend a significant portion of our lives sleeping, and our bodies’ sleep-wake cycle governs when we need to sleep and when we need to stay up.
Every species’ sleep-wake cycle is distinct, however, in the case of humans, our 24-hour sleep-wake cycle is divid into an 8:16 ratio, suggesting that our bodies should be in a condition of sleep for 8 hours and awake for 16 hours.
But we all know that aspirations and reality don’t always match up, and there is a slew of factors that can throw off the sleep-wake cycle balance, and we are currently suffering from widespread sleep deprivation.
The sleep-wake cycle in our bodies ensures that waste products from the brain are clear at night, allowing it to function at its optimum the next morning.
While we sleep, our bodies perform a variety of functions, including healing and repairing cellular wear and tear.
After a long day, several portions of our bodies, including our brains, require rest and regeneration, which is critical for our physical well-being.
The Effects of Shift Work on the Sleep-Wake Cycle:
We almost had no choice but to sleep during the night and get our chores done during the day, before the introduction of electricity and the birth of the sleep revolution.
Because most of our work and occupations took place during the day, practically everyone was able to keep a fairly regular, if not ideal, sleep-wake cycle.
As a result, many different sectors have divid their workers into shifts, allowing them to operate 24 hours a day.
There are several shifts available, the most frequent of which is a day shift that starts at 8 a.m. and finishes at 6 p.m.
Morning shifts, night shifts, afternoon shifts, and even graveyard shifts are available.
Except for those who work 8 a.m.–6 p.m. shifts, most shift workers have broken or disrupte sleep cycles.
Because sunlight is important in the management of our sleep-wake cycle, our bodies need to receive their 8 hours of sleep during the nighttime hours when the sun is out.
People who work shifts are at risk of developing Shift Work Sleep Disorder since they must sleep during the day and stay awake at night (SWSD).
Shift workers with sleep difficulties are frequently bewilder and exhaust during their shifts. It also affects memory, slows cognitive functions, and reduces productivity.
Shift work sleep disturbance is associate with a number of health hazards, including an increase risk of heart disease, bodily discomfort, exhaustion, chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, and excessive sleepiness.
How to Manage Shift Work Sleep Disorder and Avoid the Health Risks It Causes
If you think you could have Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD), or if you’re having a lot of health. And productivity problems as a result of your late-night or rotating shifts, you should contact a doctor.
If you’ve been diagnose with this disease, your doctor may recommend a variety of medicines, including Modalert, which contains the pharmaceuticals Modafinil and Armodafinil, which are especially used to treat this disorder.
Your doctor may also recommend strategies such as sleeping in a dark room during the day . Or getting plenty of sunlight during the day to help you restore your sleep-wake cycle. And counteract the detrimental effects of inadequate nighttime sleep.
Having total darkness and reducing the temperature in your sleeping area can help you sleep better during the day.
Modalert 200 and Modvigil are two medications that are commonly use to treat sleepiness caused by working shifts. Many people say it helps them be more productive at work.
But, if you can, let nature do its job of mending the damage by getting enough deep sleep at night. Taking regular naps and avoiding eating too close to bedtime both during the day. And at night will help you sleep better and maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle.
