How to tell if you have shift work sleep disorder
So now that you know what SWSD is, you need to figure out if it applies to you and what to do next. Fortunately, not every shift worker suffers from SWSD. It’s estimated that 10-40% of shift workers have SWSD, so if you’re in the 60-90% that don’t, then you’re in luck! But it’s important to see if you have any symptoms to know if you have SWSD and what kind of treatment you’ll need.
10-40% of shift workers have SWSD
Here are some of the most common effects of SWSD:
- Excessive sleepiness
- Difficulty sleeping when desired
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches
- Lack of energy
- Irritability
- New health concerns, like stomach irritability, heart disease, and even cancer
What to do if you think you might have SWSD
If you’re having any of these symptoms and you think SWSD could be the culprit, talk to your healthcare provider. They will likely first run some tests to rule out other underlying sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
Also, it’s a good idea to keep a sleep diary of which shifts you worked and what hours you slept. That way, your doctor can use your diary to help identify the problem and monitor its progression over time. Click here to see what a sample diary looks like and learn how you too can help take control of SWSD.