Shift Work - Symptoms & Risks
Shift work disorder makes it difficult to get enough sleep each day. As a result, you may experience:
- Excessive sleepiness
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches
- Poor mood & irritability
Shift work disorder can also increase the risk for:
- Work-related injuries
- Costly mistakes at work
- Increased use of sick time
- Accidents related to drowsy driving
- Substance abuse due to use of drugs or alcohol to improve sleep
Increased long term health risks include:
- Frequent infections, colds and the flu
- Breast and prostate cancer
- High cholesterol levels
- Heart disease
- Obesity