Author Archive
Sleep Deprivation In Different Occupations
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA, has demonstrated the harmful physical and mental fitness conditions that are associated with peace officers.
Some of the findings of the Sleep Disorders, Health, and Safety in Cops study (covering close to 5000 cops) included the following: 40.4 percent of those surveyed had one sleep disorder, 28.5 had scores that indicated they experienced unrestrained sleepiness, an enormous 45.9 percent reporting having nodded off or fallen asleep while driving (some as many as 1 to 2 times every week), and 33.6 percent screened positive for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Those with a sleep disorders showed higher occurrences for depression, burnout/emotional exhaustion and going to sleep while driving. Sleep disorder sufferers were likelier to make crucial executive inaccuracies; commit safety violations due to fatigue; show uncontrolled angriness towards a citizen or suspect; incur personal complaints; absenteeism or fall asleep during conferences. OSA was associated with a diagnosis of diabetes; cardiovascular illness and high caffeine consumption.
“I don't think it's too imaginative to suspect that some of these detrimental health, safety and performance outcomes exist in other industries and jobs that involve tedious hours, shift work and stressed and even traumatising circumstances” related Elizabeth Shannon of Sleepless No More.
“I’m pretty confident that some, if not all, of the following industries and jobs would show increased numbers of sleep deprived people: the transport and trucking industry; air traffic controllers; nurses, doctors and emergency medical technicians; ambulance and emergency rescue services; website security staff; all night electronic processing centers; state special branches; cleaners and office security; the army” she continued.
“That a few of these jobs and industries include traumatising events with lives depending on precision are elements in the stress, I'm supposing.”
“People working in these industries definitely require some practical answers to their sleep deprivation. And the solutions shouldn’t include sleeping pills, alcohol or coffee” Shannon says.
Calvin H Luish is a sleep disorders analyst who assists in alleviating sleep disorders among individuals.
