Shift work and sleep apnea are related?

I found an interesting read for those of you who do shift work or sleep at vastly different times every night. I've been a shift worker for three years and didn't know this connection existed. Almost makes me wonder if the shift work caused my severe case of OSA or if it was a pre-existing condition.
http://www.sleep-apnea-guide.com/sleep- ... -work.html

Hi Linagee

Fuzzy96 had something to say about this at -

viewtopic/t58086/Cognitive-Deficits-of- ... inger.html

cheers

Mars

linagee wrote:.... Almost makes me wonder if the shift work caused my severe case of OSA or if it was a pre-existing condition.
http://www.sleep-apnea-guide.com/sleep- ... -work.html

I did not see anything in the article that indicated a cause & effect releationship between shift work and OSA. The reference articles (also the one above posted by Mars) was more about the impact of ship work and/or sleep deprivation on those who already have OSA.

Shiftwork does not cause sleep apnea. However, shiftwork can make weight management very difficult and, as we know, for many people weight is a significant factor in their sleep apnea. The connection between shiftwork (or poor sleep in general) and weight management is an interesting story coming out of the research over the past 25 years.