Can shift work affect your health?

And time is a luxury that shift workers rarely have, especially when rotating shifts are the norm. As a result, shift workers often suffer sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation not only decrease concentration and productivity, but it also increases risk of injuries on the job.

Believe it or not, being tired is nothing compared to other health problems associated with constant changes in work and sleep schedule. Shift workers can experience:


• Digestive problems


• Increased risk for heart disease


• Stress due to disruption of family and social life


• Greater risk of being overweight

Alcohol and medicines make the problem worse
Using alcohol or medication simply is not the right solution to help you sleep.

They do not help your body clock to adjust to the new time pattern.

They induce an unnatural sleep that has a different quality and less refreshing from natural sleep.

Sedative pills (sleeping pills) are addictive when used for a long time.
Therefore, alcohol and medication simply make your problems worse.

Reducing Shift-Work Health Problems
There is not yet a clear solution to getting good sleep while on shift work, but the best way to deal with it is to do things which help your body clock to re-align.

These include:


• Avoid quick shift changes: A break of 7 to 10 hours before rotating to a new shift, such as going from day to night shift on the same day of the week. A short break means the person may be tired when beginning the next shift, and accidents can result. At least 24 hours of break time are recommended after ending a night-work shift.


• Try to keep work schedules regular and predictable. It is important to know your schedule in advance to plan rest, child and family care and other social activities.


• Exercise can help sort out body rhythms. You should start your new 'day' with some sort of gentle exercise. This may mean a brisk jog at 10 PM when most people are tucking up for the night.