title: [Health problems due to night shift work and jetlag].
abstract: Technical demands, economic considerations and allocation of services around the clock bring about, that night work constantly represents a portion of 12-15% in Germany. Work against the biologic clock increases the risks for accidents and may produce health risks as sleeping or gastro-intestinal disorders, depression, cardio-vascular diseases, overweight, and a disturbed sexual activity and fertility. Adaptation to an altered day/night rhythm during night shift work takes more than a week, and even then the time shift is rarely complete. In contrast the duration of time shift is much shorter during a jetlag and is mostly completed after 2-3 days. Therefore, much less health risk is to be expected from jetlag as compared to night shift work. About 15% of all healthy adults are insufficiently adaptable to night shift work. These individuals carry a particularly high health risk, if regularly participating in night shift work.
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung Arbeitsmedizin, Medizinische Universität Wien. hugo.ruediger@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Rüdiger
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology; D021081:Chronobiology Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005858:Germany; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020179:Jet Lag Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin