Rotating Shift Work Research Paper

Although operating a business twenty four hours, a day seven days a week is great for production, it’s not always good for the workers’ health. Some of the health challenges that rotating shift workers will experience in their career are obesity, insomnia, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular disease. The effects of a rotating shift work can be challenging for workers who are not aware of the health issues, and how their circadian rhythm works.
The circadian rhythm is what controls an individual’s sleep pattern along with telling the brain to release melatonin, a chemical that helps control your wake and sleep cycle. Rotating shifts can create havoc on an individual’s circadian rhythm, and may lead to physical and or health problems over time. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences states that “Circadian rhythms can influence sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, body temperature and other important bodily functions. They have been linked to various sleep disorders, such as insomnia.” (Circadian Rhythms Fact Sheet) Even with all the recommendations that can be used to help deal with an ever constant changing sleep cycle, there is no effective way of controlling the circadian rhythm cycle.
Shift work has an impact on workers …show more content…
The reason for depression in shift workers is likely due to how the brain processes serotonin, a chemical that helps regulate an individual’s mood, appetite, and sleep cycle. Serotonin is a chemical that is found in the gastrointestinal tract, blood, and central nervous system. “Most of our brain cells are influenced by serotonin. These include cells related to sleep, appetite, mood, sexual desire and function, memory and learning, temperature regulation, and some social behavior. Low levels of serotonin have been associated with anger, depression, and anxiety.” ("Night Shift Nurses and