In some cases, sleep-wake rhythms undergo net changes due to work commitments that are difficult to control.
The shiftworker's syndrome affects people who have to change their work at least 3-4 times over the course of a month; it may concern professional figures employed in the sectors of health, commerce, traffic, construction, information, etc. The sleep-wake rhythm is thus inevitably affected, especially when the working period coincides with the usual night-time sleep phase. The consequences include daytime fatigue and greater difficulty in falling asleep at different times of the day. The shift worker syndrome can also lead to greater irritability, concentration problems and a decrease in reaction speed.
Possible remedies
Some precautions can improve the situation. It would be important not to do too many night work shifts below: the body would suffer an imbalance, as happens when traveling through countries with different time zones (jet lag). In fact, the severity of the symptoms of shiftwork syndrome is proportional to the frequency of changes and the duration of work shifts. Rotational movements in a clockwise direction (ie from day to evening and night) are preferred over counter-clockwise ones.
All people who have a sleep-waking rhythm completely upset due to work reasons should enjoy a short afternoon nap . It has been shown, in fact, that, in these cases, small naps remove drowsiness and improve performance.
In waking hours, workers must optimize exposure to bright light. To promote daytime sleep, then, it is necessary to rest in a dark and silent environment, resorting to shutters, curtains and soundproof windows. When symptoms persist or interfere with quality of life, the doctor may recommend the use of hypnotics-sedatives with a short half-life and medications that promote wakefulness.
