Shift work and health

Edited by Dr. Stefano Casali

" do shift work

Dysomnia is associated with other disorders in about half of the cases of intolerance to shift work (Andreoni D., 1991; G. Costa., 1999 .; Melino C., 1992). This suggests that dysomnia is the primary pathological sign of the desynchronization of circadian rhythms and of the phases of activity and rest. The study of the different forms of sleep disorders allows us to recognize a type more or less predisposed to "adaptation to work shifts. The coping mechanisms are very important, understood as that "set of skills and abilities that modify the workload or directly affect the homeostatic and / or circadian factors that produce drowsiness in work situations (IG Aspinwall SE, Taylor Astitch, 1997; Asprea AM, Villone Betocchi G., 1998 ). Among the coping strategies we must include the responsibility or commitment factor, which can strongly influence the willingness and motivation to adapt one's life habits to working hours. Availability in turn influenced by organizational factors such as monetary incentives, facilitation and career advancement opportunities (Lazarus R.S., Monat A., 1991).

To summarize, some diagrams on shift work taken from the preamble of the constitution of the WHO (Prof. A. Bergamaschi) are attached:

Not simply the absence of disease,

Gastrointestinal disorders
Neuropsychic pathologies
Cardiovascular diseases

but complete physical and mental well-being

Disturbance of circadian rhythms
Sleep and eating disorders
Reduced psycho-physical efficiency e
work performance

and social

Family life difficulties
Obstacles to social integration

Medium and long-term health effects:

Gastrointestinal disorders

Gastroduodenitis

Duodenal ulcer

Irritable colon

Neuropsychic pathologies

Chronic insomnia

Anxious-depressive syndromes

Cardiovascular diseases

Ischemic heart disease

Short-term effects:

Jet lag syndrome

Sleep disorders

Digestive disorders

Psychoneurotic disorders

Menstrual changes

> accident risk

> toxicological risk

Most vulnerable subjects: WOMEN

Menstrual disturbances

Reduced fertility

Greater abortion

Disrupted fetal development

Chronic fatigue

/health-wellness/chronic- fatigue- syndrome.html

Child care

Family loads

Relative risk of coronary heart disease

Daily work (%)

Do shift work(%)

Non-Smoking

1

1.3

Smokers

1.6

2.7

Obesity

1.3

2.3

Tenkanen et Al.,

Every age

1

1.3

45-55 years: Men

1.3

Women

3.0

Knutsson et Al.,

Most vulnerable subjects: ELDERLY WORKERS

Reduced psycho-physical efficiency

Greater mental rigidity

Less restorative power of sleep

Increased tendency to internal desynchronization

Resistance to change

Impaired health

Ergonomic criteria for organizing shift work

Limit the fixed night shift to the maximum

Clockwise rotation (phase delay)

Minimum possible number of consecutive nights

Rest after the nights

Furthermore

Postponement of the morning start time

As many free weekends as possible

Regular and not too long cycles

Duration of shift in relation to workload

Timely information on the shift

More articles on "Shift work and health implications"

1. Shift work and health
2. Shift workers and health