Shift or night work? Sleep debt is to be paid with health risks

People who have a shift work often are faced with trouble sleeping. Why is this so? What is the reason for this? There are a number of reasons that will explain to you why such a schedule disrupts your sleep and your health.

First of all, you need to know that your body has an in-built biological rhythm which keeps you alert throughout the day. When you want to sleep during the day, it definitely takes longer to drift off and you are much less likely to have 7-8 hours of deep and uninterrupted sleep.

People who follow sleep hygiene (go to bed and wake up at the same time every day) produce hormones that act as signals for the body to sleep or wake up according to the 24-hour cycle. Accordingly, the more often you change your work schedule, the harder it is for your body to switch and follow it. This is especially difficult for shift workers with different routines on work and rest days.

The next factor that destroys your health due to the fact that you do not get a healthy sleep, is that during the day you will not be able to sleep well and quietly. Even if you manage to find a secluded and quiet place, your family responsibilities and personal relationships will make you get up earlier and forget about rest.

According to statistics, night shift workers sleep for 2 hours less than the average adult. In this case, shift workers are at greater risk of accidents and poor health due to sleep deprivation. Just think about it.