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