[Burden and health effects of shift work].
In Germany aprox. 15% of all employees have irregular or flexible working hours. Disturbed sleep and/or hypersomnia are direct consequences of shift work and therefore described as shift work disorder. Beyond this, shift work can also be associated with specific pathological disorders. There are individual differences in tolerance to shift work. Optimization of both shift schedules and sleep to "non-physiological" times of the day are measures to counteract the negative effects of shift work. There is still not enough evidence to recommend drugs for routine use in shift workers.
Schlafmedizinischen Ambulanz in Marburg. heitmanj@med.uni-marburg.de
Jörg
J
Heitmann
D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence; D005858:Germany; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009784:Occupational Diseases; D012890:Sleep; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance
D008550:Melatonin