New research shows that employees who begin work at 11 p.m. are more tired than employees who start their work day at 9 a.m., according to Fox News.
A study presented at the annual SLEEP meeting in San Antonio, Texas shows that employees who begin work between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. had the maximum amount of sleep before work ( eight hours), while those who begin work between 8 p.m. and midnight had the minimum amount of sleep (4.5 hours) before work.
The National Sleep Foundation states shift workers are at increased risk for a variety of chronic health problems, such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. New studies suggest that shift workers may also be at increased risk for developing cancer.
Researchshows that night shift work is associated with decreased work performance and alertness and increased risk for accidents.
People who work night shifts can improve their sleep and work performance by maintaining a bedtime and wake schedule throughout the week, drinking caffeinated beverages during the shift to help maintain alertness, by working with others to increase alertness and by taking naps during breaks. It is important that they maximize the sleep environment, for example, by using black out shades and ensuring that there will be no phone calls to disturb the sleep. It is recommended that a Do Not Disturb sign be placed on the door to the bedroom to remind other family members, but also on the front door so that random solicitors do not ring the door bell and disrupt the shift worker’s sleep.
Experts at Northshore Sleep Medicine can help shift workers regulate their sleep patterns with bright light therapy and special sunglasses that block out blue spectrum light in the morning.
