While working on the night shift may have benefits, each session can feel like an uphill battle against your body’s natural instincts. Whether in healthcare, emergency services, or other essential industry, the toll of working against the body’s circadian rhythm can have significant effects on your health. Some of these manifest in poor sleep, persistent fatigue, and long-term health concerns.
The good news is that you don’t have to constantly sacrifice your health to work the night shift. With adoptable practices such as infrared sauna therapy, you can help reset your body’s internal clock and get into a healthier routine that will allow you to get quality rest. In this article, our team at Sun Stream Saunas AUS will delve deeper into how IR sauna benefits can become a transformative tool for night shift workers seeking better well-being in the long run.
Understanding Circadian Rhythm Disruption in Night Shift Workers
Your circadian rhythm is a 24-hour internal clock covering sleep, wakefulness, hormone regulation, and other critical processes. It is heavily influenced by light and temperature cues which is why we are alert during the day and feel tired or sleepy when the sun sets. Unfortunately, night shift workers experience this in reverse. Instead of being exposed to sunlight during the day and darkness at night, their schedules force them to stay active when their bodies expect rest.
This misalignment leads to circadian rhythm disruption, which has been scientifically linked to insomnia, fatigue, and other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. In addressing these effects, tailored strategies are required for the body to adapt.
How IR Sauna Benefits Restore Circadian Rhythm and Improve Sleep
Stimulating Melatonin for Better Sleep Quality
Night shift workers, exposed to artificial light during their active hours, frequently experience suppressed melatonin levels or the sleep hormone. This is compounded by increased levels of cortisol or the stress hormone, making it difficult to achieve proper sleep.
Fortunately, infrared saunas have been proven to reduce cortisol levels by inducing wavelengths of light most associated with the daytime’s natural end. This helps usher the body into a calm and meditative state that primes it for sleep and repair, and indirectly supports healthy melatonin regulation.
Optimising Core Body Temperature for Sleep Onset
Core body temperature signals the body when it’s time to rest. Under normal circumstances, the body’s temperature naturally drops at night, facilitating sleep. However, because of their schedule, night shift workers often experience dysregulated temperature cycles, which disrupt sleep patterns.
During infrared sauna sessions, the body’s core temperature rises. Afterwards, the body begins to cool down, mimicking the natural temperature drop in temperature occurring before sleep. This triggers sleep-promoting signals, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System
The stress and irregularity of night shift work often leave the body in its fight or flight state of being – largely as a result of pushing the body outside of its typical periods of rest for extended lengths of time. However, staying in this state for too long can not only impair sleep, but also lead to chronic stress and anxiety.
Infrared sauna treatments, however, encourage the body to switch to parasympathetic mode – or the rest and digest system, especially as the body starts to cool down. Here, the heart rate and blood pressure lowers, creating a sense of calm and preparing the body for sleep.
Tailoring IR Sauna Therapy to Night Shift Schedules
While infrared sauna therapy can help normalise sleep patterns for night shift workers, several practices can help maximise its benefits. This includes:
- Post-Shift Relaxation: If you seek to get rest immediately after your shift, scheduling your infrared sauna therapy sessions right after can help prepare your body for rest.
- Pre-Sleep Ritual: Combine your sauna session with a calming bedtime routine. For instance, dim the lights, avoid screens, and drink calming tea.
- Consistency is Key: Regular sauna use, even on days off, reinforces the rhythm you’re trying to set for your body. It also maximises long term benefits.
If you’re looking to incorporate infrared sauna therapy into your night shift routine, we at Sun Stream can help. Our advanced infrared saunas are designed with cutting-edge technology to deliver the health benefits you need for optimal rest. Explore our range today or contact us for more questions or inquiries.