Sleep Disorders Affect America’s Finest

Policemen Suffer from Sleep Deprivation

Workers with shift-based schedules are more prone to developing common sleep disorders like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, insomnia and work shift disorder. Symptoms of these disorders usually include sleep deprivation, which exacerbates health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. A Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) survey of 5,000 policemen showed that 40 percent are suffering from at least one form of a sleep disorder. As a result, more respected members of law enforcement are living with generally weak health, which can result in issues regarding safety on the job as well as inefficiency when it comes to work performance.

A sheriff from Henry County, Lane Perry, said that he saw truth in the discovered trend. He said that police work is a very stressful job and that the stress goes home with the officers even after their shifts end, which makes them susceptible to sleep disorders. Moreover, Perry noted that police officers do not have the luxury of taking a break during their shift. It is an ongoing and fast-moving job. Those who are not on duty are often called to assist or even work overtime during ongoing investigations.

In the study, researchers said that being a police officer requires flexibility when it comes to scheduling shifts. Some officers may be asked to take an extended shifts or longer work weeks, which in other occupations might be reconsidered because overworking an employee can increase the chance of on-the-job errors, injury and, in some cases, car accidents. Data from 2003 suggested that more officers were killed by accidents than actual felony events. Experts think that it is likely that fatigue resulting from poor sleep quality, irregular sleep timing and untreated sleep disorders may play a significant role in these statistics. The JAMA study is one of a handful of studies that, to date, has investigated the connection between sleep and health of the police force.

The JAMA publication stated that obstructive sleep apnea, shift work disorder and insomnia are among the leading sleep disorders. They affect as many as 50 to 70 million people in the United States. But, unfortunately, the majority of these patients do not acknowledge that they have any sleep disorders and never go into a sleep center for treatment.

Sleep Apnea

Board-certified neurologist Dr. Frank Walsh from Martinsville Neurology said that sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep disorder. Sleep apnea occurs when breathing is stopped for a few seconds or minutes because of a blockage of the upper air passage. These breathing problems can make a person wake up gasping for air, which disrupts dreaming and deep sleep throughout most of the night. Sleep apnea also results in poor oxygenation that can stress out the heart, exacerbating symptoms of heart attack, diabetes, stroke and hypertension.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most widespread subtype of sleep apnea. It is marked by a physically blocked or collapsed air passage, rather than any neurological dysfunction. The obstruction results in loud snoring.  People who are overweight and people with generally thick necks are very prone to obstructive sleep apnea, though the sleep disorder is also prevalent among those of average weight.

Sleep apnea treatment involves using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. CPAP is a gadget that provides a steady flow of oxygen through a hose and a face mask worn during sleep. As of now, CPAP is the most commonly diagnosed form of sleep apnea treatment and has been known to help many people get better sleep. CPAP patients are also encouraged to lose weight and change their lifestyle to accommodate proper diet and exercise.

Shift Work Disorder

Shift work disorder happens to people who keep on having to change their work schedules.  These individuals have the tendency to be sluggish and drowsy most of the time.  Although study of shift work is staring to become commonplace and future research may bode differently, the sleep disorder has not linked to major health issues.

Employers should not change their employees’ work schedules too often and should maintain regular shift hours for more than a week. When, in a rush, someone shifts from one waking time to another, the mind and the body may get out of sync. Productivity will surely be affected because the employee will be sleepy. In addition, employee safety concerns become especially relevant when it comes to those who are attending to patients or workers who drive trucks or other vehicles for a living.