Sleep deprivation among shift workers increases risk of stroke, migraine, others

A consultant physician and neurologist, Dr. Fatima Abdulai, has warned that chronic sleep deprivation—common among shift workers—may increase the risk of serious health conditions such as stroke, type 2 diabetes, migraines, and mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety.

Abdulai, the Assistant Secretary of the Nigerian Sleep Society, spoke during a webinar titled “Sleep Care and Shift Work: Practical Protocols to Optimise Brain Health”.

The webinar was co-hosted by the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg) in collaboration with the Nigerian Medical Association, the African Lifestyle Medicine Council, and the Nigerian Sleep Society.

She described sleep as an essential biological process rather than a passive state, noting that important activities occur in the brain during sleep.

According to her, sleep plays a vital role in physical restoration, immune function, hormonal regulation, mood stability, and memory consolidation.

Abdulai explained that adequate sleep is critical for brain health, noting that adults typically require between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, while children need longer periods depending on their age.

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The neurologist noted that shift work, defined by the International Labour Organisation as a work arrangement in which employees work outside normal daytime hours, can disrupt the circadian rhythm, the body’s internal 24-hour biological clock that regulates the sleep–wake cycle.

“Inadequate sleep can impair cognitive function. A person may misread information or make errors at work,” she said, citing fatigue-related accidents as one possible consequence.

Abdulai emphasised the importance of increasing public awareness about the health risks linked to poor sleep habits, particularly for workers with irregular or night shift schedules.

She urged shift workers to prioritise sleep and adopt strategies that safeguard their health despite demanding work schedules.

“Shift work is associated with well-documented and potentially harmful effects on the brain and other bodily systems. People need to become more aware of these risks and take deliberate steps to protect their sleep and overall well-being,” she said.

She also advised individuals to avoid unnecessary activities that reduce sleep time, emphasising that sleep plays a crucial role in allowing the body to repair and restore itself.

Also speaking, Dr Moyosore Makinde, a consultant family physician and lifestyle medicine specialist, said that sleep should be regarded as essential to human health, just like food, water, and air.

Makinde, President of SOLONg, explained that the body operates on a biological clock known as the circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep patterns, body temperature, hormone production, and other physiological functions.

She warned that prolonged disruption of this biological rhythm could increase the risk of cancer, citing findings from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which classifies night shift work that disrupts circadian rhythms as a probable carcinogen.

Makinde encouraged shift workers to prioritise sleep by maintaining consistent sleep schedules, aiming for seven to nine hours of sleep within 24 hours, and creating environments that promote restful sleep.

She also recommended limiting caffeine and alcohol intake before bedtime, reducing exposure to bright light after night shifts, and practising relaxation techniques to improve sleep quality.

The physician further highlighted the importance of nutrition and exercise in managing sleep disruption, advising workers to adopt fibre-rich diets and maintain regular physical activity.

Beyond individual lifestyle changes, Makinde called for organisational and policy-level interventions to protect the health of shift workers.

Such measures, she said, include limiting consecutive night shifts, providing scheduled rest breaks, ensuring the availability of healthy food options in the workplace, and creating staff rest areas with controlled lighting.

She emphasised that both employers and employees must collaborate to address sleep-related challenges associated with shift work.