Lack Of Sleep Affects Your Ability To fall Asleep

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 at 8:20 PM

People are affected by all kinds of sleep disorders – some genetically based and some because of our jobs — and those disorders can affect not only your health, but also safety.

Several studies in recent years have linked a lack of sleep to depression, intestinal disorders and heart disease. While there is no proof that getting more sleep prevents these diseases, it is clear that a lack of sleep, and shift work, affect how some people do their jobs.

A recent string of high-profile stories involving air traffic controllers missing planes while asleep on the job highlighted the issue and served as a wake-up call for the airline industry.

In one case, an air ambulance trying to land in Nevada had to wait after getting no response from the dozing controller. The air ambulance eventually landed on its own.

One US Airways pilot who spoke to Wiggin — but asked not to be identified — said it happens more often than some people might realize.

“I wasn’t surprised, and they are facing many of the same things pilots face, also,” the anonymous airline pilot said.

Dr. Peter Lambrou is a doctor of aviation medicine. He used to be a pilot, and said he sees many pilots who are overtired.

“Rest has always been a problem when industry started working round the clock. It’s an increasing problem in long hauls, where (you are) flying four or five hours,” Lambrou said.

Dr. Patrick Strollo, director of the UPMC Sleep Medicine Center, said shift workers can end up with their circadian rhythms out of whack. Those rhythms are part of the biological clock and are governed by light and darkness.

“It can impact your ability to fall asleep. There are certain times of the day that people are more sleepy or less sleepy,” Strollo said.

Strollo said treatments for circadian rhythm disturbances can include the hormone melatonin, and light exposure that might involve getting up and going outside for a walk.

Strollo’s center also tests for physiological reasons for sleep disturbances, like sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.[ Source: WTAE.Com ]