According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), more than 20 percent of American workers--including health care workers, police officers, security guards and transit workers---work evening or night shifts. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the night shift is defined as one that starts between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. and ends between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. Because they must sleep during the day, night shift workers get less sleep than other individuals. The National Institutes of Health reports that lack of sleep can contribute to physical and psychological health concerns.
Sleep Disturbances
The AARP reports that 60 percent to 70 percent of shift workers experience sleep disturbances. During the day, the body's normal rhythms are attuned to activity, so daytime sleep is lighter, shorter and less satisfying than nighttime sleep, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Lack of sleep affects the physical and psychological well-being of the night shift worker.
Fatigue
Night shift workers fall asleep on the job two to five times more often than those who work during the day, reports the AARP. Body rhythms are lowest between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., according to NIOSH, so night shift workers become fatigued at work, leading to errors, loss of focus and poor productivity.
Fatigue also causes motor vehicle accidents. According to a 2002 report of the National Highway Safety Administration, falling asleep while driving is responsible for at least 100,000 crashes, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths each year in the United States.
Heart Disease
NIOSH reports that heart problems have been noted more often among shift workers than day workers. However, the way in which the work schedule affects the heart is not clear. Work schedule stress might cause heart disease, but it is more likely a combination of stress, diet, smoking and drinking habits, other life stresses and family history of heart disease.
Digestive Problems
According to NIOSH, shift workers may have more upset stomachs, constipation and stomach ulcers than day workers. Digestive problems in night shift workers may be related to irregular eating and elimination, eating junk food or stress.
Stress
Night shift workers may have strained relationships because they have limited opportunities to interact with family and friends, says the NIOSH. Combined with other stressors, a demanding work schedule can contribute to poor health habits, including drinking and smoking, and may aggravate existing health problems.
References
- AARP: Disturbances of Sleep Timing
- National Institutes of Health: Shift Work Can Put a Crimp on Sleep
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Overtime and Extended Work Shifts
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Plain Language About Shift Work
- American Psychological Association: Why Sleep Is Important and What Happens If You Don't Get Enough
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