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Shift Work Sleep Disorder
Dangers of Interrupting your Natural Sleep Patterns

November 6, 2007

Anyone who's ever worked the third shift can attest to shift work sleep disorder and the on-the-job accidents that it causes. Even working a 2nd or rotating shift can throw us off and bring about symptoms of a night shift sleep problem - ultimately disrupting the natural sleep pattern, we've developed in our younger years. From birth to at least 18 years of age, we usually follow a rigid night-time sleeping schedule. At the age of employment however, workers may be thrown into a problem or situation where bills, mortgage, and overall survival depends on our ability to adapt to rotating work schedules and become instant night owls.

One problem with becoming night owls is that workers are not birds - and as humans, workers were never meant to be nocturnal creatures. We are instead, diurnal and we follow a natural circadian rhythm that specifically dictates our time to rest and restore damage placed upon the body during the day.

The obvious solution to a sleep disorder, or on-the-job accidents that's a direct result of working a rotating shift (including the night shift), is to change jobs - preferably to a day job. But we recognize that isn't always possible or even easy to do. In this circumstance, it's vital to your health that you work to combat a sleep disorder, alleviate sleep deprivation or daytime sleepiness, reduce on-the-job accidents, and ensure your body gets the rest it needs during the daytime. And that work may involve a visit to your physician for treatment!

See Also: Shift Work Sleep Disorder

About The Author:
Andrew Thomas is a successful author and regular contributor to sleep-disorders-help.com.