What is shift work disorder?
shiftwork disorders occur when your working hours do not match your body's natural circadian rhythm. Normally, during the day, light helps the brain secrete the hormone cortisol to keep you alert, while at night the body produces melatonin to make it easier to sleep and relax.
When you have to work night shifts, early shifts or change shifts continuously, your body cannot keep up with the new rhythm. This makes you more likely to lose sleep, sleep less deeply or sleep too much while working.
How does shiftwork disorder affect health?
- Stress and anxiety
Long-term lack of sleep makes you easily angry, impatient and always in a state of stress. If it persists, this can affect surrounding relationships and increase the risk of depression.
- Reduced ability to concentrate
People with shiftwork disorders often have difficulty concentrating, forgetting easily and processing information more slowly than usual. That causes declining work performance and significantly affects mental health.
- Increased risk of accidents
Because they are always sleepy, have slow reflexes and lack alertness, part-time workers are at high risk of traffic accidents or incidents while operating machinery.
- decreased overall health
Prolonged sleep disturbances can lead to digestive problems, high blood pressure, reduced sex hormones and negatively affect cardiovascular health as well as the body's metabolism.
