Sleep Apnea Cures

If you are one of the millions of folks who often revolve their working shifts and are effectively working when their body wants to sleep, you may find that you feel more and more drowsy during your night shifts and unable to sleep during the day even though you may feel really tired. These symptoms of drowsiness and insomnia are a complaint called shift work sleep disorder, that can also bring on other health related problems like regular headaches, having trouble focusing and no energy. Read on for several tips on what you can do to relieve the symptoms of SWSD.

The most obvious remedy is to try to modify your work schedule to hours that are more sociable. By working at night, you are confusing your body’s inner clock, called the circadian rhythm, which regulates itself with the rising and setting of the sun to recognize when it is time to wake and sleep respectively. Shift work pushes your body into an abnormal state of working when it should be asleep and sleeping when it would ordinarily be awake. This is the reason that you feel drowsy during the night and then cannot drop off during the day although you are extremely tired. Consequently, if feasible, it is in your best interests to have a chat with your work supervisor to see if shift changes can be made.

Here are some sleep strategies for shift workers that you may like to try. If you cannot change your working schedule, there are other actions you can take to minimize the effects on your body.  When you are working, avoid drinking the likes of tea, coffee and other caffeinated drinks to keep yourself awake. Although the caffeine can behave as a stimulant to some folks, the effects are short lived and you will in all probability feel even more tired and lethargic after the initial buzz has worn off. Caffeine also dries out the respiratory tracts, which could contribute to sleep apnea syndrome and snoring when you finally try getting some sleep. As an substitute, try to drink natural fruit crushes or even plain water.  In addition, ask your doctor about any natural supplements you could take while working to keep yourself alert.

Shift work sleep disorder might also mean that you are sleepy during the day, even if you use this time for rest before your shift. If you have narcolepsy, which is believed to be caused by the brains inability to adapt to normal sleep wake cycles, you may find that you are doing things without remembering, or having vivid dreams while you are not in sleep mode. Your body may also be in a slight state of paralysis when you are trying to awaken, which is an indicator that shift work sleep disorder may be your problem.

If your sleep problems are ongoing, you should have a chat with your doctor, who might encourage you to keep a sleep journal, and to write down any patterns that you notice or experience when you are feeling sleepy. You will additionally need to keep yourself on a normal sleep schedule, so that your body will develop a cycle for resting. Sometimes, medications like Ritalin might be prescribed. If you consider this might be your best alternative, talk to your physician about the recommended dose for you, based on the severity of your symptoms. Keep in mind that stimulants do have side effects, so if you find that your blood pressure has gone up or you are more cranky, you may need to investigate some other options for treating your shift work sleep disorder.