It is well known that the sleeping habits of people can be affected by working shifts, but it appears that when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, police officers suffer more than most. According to research carried out at Brigham and Women's Hospital, apart from working irregular hours, they are more likely to suffer sleep disorders. Of the police officers assessed, it was found that sleep apnoea was affecting 34 per cent of them. It was also found that 6.5 per cent suffered from severe insomnia, which may affect their ability to function normally on duty. The American Medical Association published findings that show safety rules are more likely to be breached by police officers suffering from sleep disorders. The chief of the division of sleep medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dr Charles A Czeisler, said that the health and safety of police officers could be affected by untreated sleep disorders, which in turn could pose a risk to the public.
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