Zeitschrift für Schlafstörungen und Therapie
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Abstrakt

Shift Work Affecting Sleep Pattern and Social Well Being of Workers

Kuramdas Jagadesh

Working unusual shifts might cause a condition known as Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD) (i.e. other than the typical 9 am to 5 pm schedule). People with SWSD typically complain of difficulty falling asleep, excessive drowsiness, and weariness, which interfere with general functioning.As patients should be able to reach them 24 hours a day, most health care workers operate on a shift schedule. The term "shift work" was first coined by Costa and is defined as "A manner of structuring daily working hours in which different persons or teams work in succession to cover more than the standard 8-hour day, up to the complete 24 hours." Those who work shifts are under stress, which negatively affects their health, wellbeing, and way of life.