While some people manage to work night shifts without any problem, others may experience fatigue and sleep deprivation. This is because the body is trained to sleep at night. Our body is controlled by the internal clock or circadian clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a pair of cells located in the hypothalamus.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus generates circadian rhythms that regulate the physiological and behavioral processes of the body, including temperature control, hormone production, sleep-wake cycle, and alertness. The rhythms run in a 24-hour cycle and are influenced by natural light. Several processes in our body that are active during the day slow down during the night, preparing the body to sleep. The circadian clock releases sleep hormones or melatonin (See Melatonin Article)during the night, causing the body to become less alert and increasing sleepiness.
As a night shift worker, your body fights against the natural rhythms and tries to keep you alert when it is actually designed to sleep. When you try to sleep during the daytime, the circadian clock influenced by exposure to daylight signals you to be awake and alert. For more information on staying alert during night shift work, check out our article on “how to stay awake at work.”
If you are a night shift worker and feel sleep deprived or suffer from sleep apnea, you need to train your body and manage your sleep during the day. The sleep quality and length during the day can be poor compared to night sleep because of temperature, noise, and light.