title: Shift work and sleep: optimizing health, safety, and performance.
abstract: Shift work is a fundamental component of the US workforce and an integral part of the lifestyles of a large proportion of the population. More than 22 million Americans work on shifts as part of their work life. Emerging research suggests that shift workers are at higher risk for a range of metabolic disorders and diseases (eg, obesity, cardiovascular disease, peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, abnormal blood glucose levels, and metabolic syndrome). Sleep disorders associated with shift work also pose a serious public health risk, as they can impair an individual's ability to perform effectively and may lead to occupational and traffic accidents.
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005221:Fatigue; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D012449:Safety; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*