Shift work disorder

Medically reviewed by Valerie Cacho, MD, board-certified sleep medicine physician

 

In short: Your body clock is wired to sleep at night and be awake by day. When work regularly lands during your normal sleep hours, such as night shifts, very early starts or rotating schedules, that clock falls out of step. Shift work disorder is the result: trouble sleeping when you have the chance, and heavy sleepiness when you need to be alert.

 

Common signs

• Trouble falling or staying asleep during the day after a night shift

• Strong sleepiness during work hours, especially in the early morning

• Sleep that feels short or unrefreshing

• Irritability, low mood or trouble concentrating

• Near-misses or mistakes at work or while driving home

 

Why it matters

Ongoing short sleep affects safety on the job and on the road, and over time it is linked to effects on mood, metabolism and heart health. Not every shift worker develops the disorder, and the right plan can make a schedule you can't change far easier to live with.

 

How we diagnose and treat it

We start with a detailed look at your schedule and sleep, often using a sleep diary, and check for other conditions like sleep apnea that can add to daytime sleepiness.

 

Treatment is built around your shifts: timing bright light and darkness to help shift your body clock, protecting a dark, quiet sleep window, planned naps, smart caffeine timing and, when appropriate, medication such as melatonin or a wake-promoting medicine under your doctor's care.

 

Working nights and running on empty?

Book an appointment in person in Fullerton, Los Alamitos or Ewa Beach, or by telehealth anywhere in California and Hawaii. Call (657) 553-3799 in California or (808) 500-7077 in Hawaii.

 

Source: Cleveland Clinic, "Shift work sleep disorder." This page is for education only and is not a substitute for a medical evaluation.