Work Shifts that Displace Sleep - Essay Example

Sleep and Shift Work Name Institution Course Date Sleep and Shift Work Work shifts that displace sleep often disrupt the circadian regulation of sleep (Dongen et al., 2003). These work shifts often in various ways contribute to health issues in relation to sleep and fatigue, motor vehicle accidents as well as cardiovascular diseases. Almost 1.5 million Australians work in shift work that makes up about 16 per cent of the total population (Dongen et al., 2003). Shift work has been linked to adverse health, safety and productivity results. Circadian rhythm disorientation and poor quality sleep often contribute to such associations (Folkard, 2008). A serious consequence of night shift work is the impaired alertness which affects the brain function. This impairment may result to preventable accidents especially in high risk situations. Night shift worker may easily be involved in accidents as a result of the impacts of lack of sleep on the brain functions (Gillberg et al., 2003). This paper will evaluate and discuss the circadian and sleep related factors that are associated to high risk of vehicle accidents among the night shift workers. There are a number of circadian and sleep related factors that have the potential to cause motor vehicle accidents among the night shift workers (Folkard, 2008). One factor is the disruption of circadian rhythms. The endogenous circadian pacemaker that is found in the hypothalamic nuclei produces and controls the timing of the social and the psychological events in relation to a 24-hour rhythm (Morris, Banks and Liu, 2012). The pacemaker indicates increased alertness in the daytime and decreased alertness at night. Night shifts involve doing work at an instance where the sleep propensity is very high and alertness is very low (Morris, Banks and Liu, 2012). Complete circadian adaption never takes place in night shift workers. This therefore results to the misalignment of the workers’ Canadian pacemaker. The impacts of this impairment are aggravated by the lack of enough sleep as a result of day time sleep for the night shifters and insomnia (Morris, Banks and Liu, 2012). The misalignment of the circadian rhythm among the night shift workers may lead to shift work disorder and excessive sleepiness during wake episodes (Morris, Banks and Liu, 2012). Circadian modulations of a number of cardiovascular risk indicators have been explained in epidemiological studies which indicate that there is a peak in cardiovascular events during morning hours. Circadian misalignment results to impaired cardiovascular functions such as decreased leptin levels, increased insulin levels and arterial pressure (Folkard, 2008). In addition, misalignment of the circadian rhythm can cause inability to maintain attention and impaired alertness. This in return may increase the risk that places night shift workers at a high likelihood of a motor vehicle accident (Morris, Banks and Liu, 2012). From research studies, it is clear that sleepiness as well as reduced vigilance is fundamental risk factors that make night shift workers prone to motor vehicle accidents (Akerstedt et al., 2005). For instance, in a research conducted in 1988 in the United States by the National Transportation Safety Board that involved different working drivers, it was concluded that about 53 per cent of all the work-related accidents are closely related to sleepiness (Axelsson et al., 2008). Sleepiness that is closely associated with sleep disturbances increases the frequency of accidents and injuries. The two most we-known factors associated with automobile accidents are over speeding and drunk driving (Axelsson et al., 2008). However, inattentiveness, fatigue sleepiness and sleep disturbance are also among the contributing factors. Drivers’ alertness contributes significantly on drivers’ safety (Dongen et al., 2003). Drowsiness and sleeping while driving have been established as a major factor that causes fatal crushes. According to Ruggiero and Redeker, (2013), the population that is linked to being involved in sleep related motor vehicle accidents include young people, people with sleep disorder and night shift workers. Sleepiness is very common among truck drivers who work night shift and have short sleep episodes (Axelsson et al., 2008). Sleepiness and sleep disturbances re high in night shift workers who rest in the day time where there are many disturbances that result to them not sleep enough (Ruggiero and Redeker, 2013). Given the impaired in alertness brought about by these factors, it is not surprising that the number of motor accidents among the night shift workers is high compared to those working in the day time. In psychological research study, duration of sleep episodes illustrates a dose-dependent relationship with daytime brain performance which reflects the effects of lingering sleep restriction on the level of an individual’s alertness (Connor et al., 2002). The effects of sleep restriction on the cardiovascular functioning have been shown in epidemiological studies (Axelsson et al., 2008). Lifestyle factors tend to demonstrate a considerable proportion of the discrepancy in sleep duration. It is clear that poor sleep quality in night shift workers lead to chronic sleep restriction that often result to higher degree of alertness deficiency overnight (Axelsson et al., 2008). This in return increases the chances of motor vehicle accidents among these workers. Night shift working has been reported to cause grater loss of enough sleep time as compared to day shift. Some argue that permanent night shift can bring about benefits in relation to the circadian adjustment; there is little evident to support such argument (Killick, Banks and Liu, 2012). Night shift is said to reduce total sleep duration while increasing wakefulness. The over exposure to light during the day can disrupt the circadian adaptation among the night shift workers (Killick, Banks and Liu, 2012). The factor of duration of wakefulness may increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents among night shift workers. With an increased duration of wakefulness, the susceptibility to sleep is enhanced and the alertness of an individual is impaired. When an individual has a normal sleep-wake rhythm, alertness tend to be constant at a stable level. After about 16 hours, an individual alertness drops considerably (Signal et al., 2013). The magnitude of impairment after the 16 hours of wakefulness in the brain performance is comparable to the level seen at a person with alcohol concentration of about 0.05 per cent in the blood (Signal et al., 2013). Therefore, the increased duration of wakefulness among the night shift workers may result to vehicle-related accidents. Drowsiness is a sleep-related factor that increases dangerous driving and accident events among night shift workers (Morris, Yang and Scheer, 2012). A prolonged driving is very dangerous during a commute after a night shift work. In the daytime driving after a night shift work, drivers more often than not experience lane excursions and eye closure while driving (Morris, Yang and Scheer, 2012). Studies have indicated that actual daytime driving is despoiled by drowsiness as a result of sleep deprivation as well as circadian misalignment among the night shift workers (Morris, Yang and Scheer, 2012). Workers who drive home in the daytime after a night shift complain of subjective sleepiness and drowsiness. Another factor that increases the risk of motor vehicle accidents among the night shift workers is the homeostatic drive for sleep. There is a homeostatic drive for sleep at night in every individual that often determined by the hours we have stayed awake (Morris, Yang and Scheer, 2012). Homeostatic can be defined as the set of mechanisms that involves self-regulation of the body. Each person often accumulates the homeostatic drive for sleep during the day. When the homeostatic pressure to sleep is very high, the neurons in the brain often switch off (Axelsson et al., 2008). This thus reduces brain’s inability to function properly and may result to reduced alertness. Night shift workers often have homeostatic pressure to sleep immediately after their work and driving in this condition place them at risk of accidents (Axelsson et al., 2008). Their brains have shut down, affecting their alertness, decision-making and concentration. Sleep inertia also is a factor that can make night shift workers prone tomorrow vehicle accidents. Sleep inertia is described as the unfocussed bleariness people experience immediately after waking up (Signal et al., 2013). When an individual wakes up, the brain needs to warm up. There exist an interim epoch between the time one wakes up and the time the brain becomes wholly functional. According to a psychological research, the brain does not reach its full efficiency immediately after waking up (Signal et al., 2013). Night shift workers often experience sleep inertia in the morning after their work. At this point, their brain is not fully functional and they may end up making wrong decisions. Therefore, there are advised not to operate heavy machinery such as driving during this transitional period (Signal et al., 2013). Due to sleep inertia, many night shift workers are at a risk of being involved vehicle-related accident. Night shift workers often sleep for shorter time compared to day shift workers (Akerstedt et al., 2005). Another important factor that determines the ability to possess cognitive performance and alertness has to do with the total amount of sleep an individual experiences. If an individual gets less than eight hours of sleep a day, the level of alertness and cognitive performance goes down since it makes it difficult for the brain to function efficiently (Killick, Banks and Liu, 2012). In order for an individual to function well, the brain should have a chance to rest properly and regularly. Due to factors such as maximum exposure of light during the day, lack of drive to sleep and insomnia among other factors, nightshift workers often sleep for few hours less than the recommended. This often reduces their ability to function properly especially after their shift (Killick, Banks and Liu, 2012). Their brains are often tired due to sleeplessness and sleep disorders. They are therefore prone to motor vehicle accidents. In conclusion, night shift affects the normal sleep routine.in general, night shift have negative effects on sleep and accident risk. It places the night shift workers in the risk of motor vehicle accidents. One factor that explains this is the misalignment of the circadian system which is caused by night shift work schedule. In addition, night shift induces sleepiness and increases the duration of wakefulness. Night shifts workers tend to sleep less in the daytime due to interruptions and sleeplessness. This makes it difficult for the brain to function normally and thus reduces alertness and concentration. In addition, night shift workers experience drowsiness especially after their work. Driving at this condition is very dangerous as one may be involved in an accident. Other circadian and sleep-related factors that make night shift workers prone to motor vehicle accidents include sleep inertia, shorter time of sleep an homeostatic drive to sleep to name a few. Therefore, night shift affects the level of alertness, causes sleep disorder and poor-quality sleep. References Akerstedt, T., Peters, B., Anund A and Kecklund G 2005, ‘Impaired alertness and performance driving home from the night shift: a driving simulator study’, Journal of Sleep Research, vol.14, no. 1, pp. 17–20. Axelsson, J., Kecklund, G., Akerstedt, T., Donofrio, P., Lekander, M and Ingre, M 2008, ‘Sleepiness and performance in response to repeated sleep restriction and subsequent recovery during semi-laboratory conditions’, Chronobiology International. pp. 297–308. 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