Appetite and Digestion

By far the most common health-related complaint made by shiftworkers is disrupted appetite and digestion. It should perhaps come as no surprise that appetite is closely linked to circadian rhythm, thus disrupting one is likely to disrupt the other. Monk and Folkard (1992) stated Expert opinion is virtually unanimous in asserting that, apart from the sleep disorders, ulcers and other forms of gastrointestinal dysfunction are the most likely health consequences of shiftwork (p. 36). Healthy eating education and the availability of healthy meal choices are often recommended as a two pronged approach to dealing with this problem. 

From the above it is clear that shiftworkers often find themselves at potentially increased risk of health-related problems. It is also clear that these problems interact not only with each other but also within a wider context. Once again this highlights the need to adopt a systems perspective, as considering each aspect in isolation would not represent human factors best practice. 

Poor-quality shift handovers mean that safety-critical information is not transferred adequately, that the incoming team s situational awareness is below par, and the potential for errors is increased. A number of major (and well-publicized) accidents have been attributed to poor shift handovers. 

From the above, it should be clear that maladjusted shiftworkers can become agents of risk to themselves and others (Monk and Folkard, 1992, p. 38). There are three ways in which this can be understood  

The first, and most obvious, way in which shiftworkers can become agents of risk is by their being sleepy, which can lead to performance decrements that arise from trying to stay awake or actually dozing off while on duty. In both cases, the worker subjectively feels sleepy and can report as such. 

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N.A. Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC Volatile oil, alkaloid.99 Improve appetite and digestion, treat dysentery and hemorrhoids. 

Eat regularly but moderately. Don t skip meals, and avoid overeating. Fire types have a strong appetite and digestion, but if you eat too much, especially hot and spicy foods, you ll risk imbalance. Think about what causes acid indigestion—pressure, anxiety, spicy foods, and greasy foods. These are all factors that Fire types have to avoid. 

Symptoms of intoxication in humans caused by accidental ingestion of Kou-Wen plants have been described as follows. The effect on the digestive system starts with loss of appetite and turn of the stomach, and continues to severe abdominal pain and intestinal bleeding. The effect on the respiratory system presents as breathing difficulties which finally lead to death by respiratory failure. The effect on muscle innervation usually results in generalized muscular weakness and paralysis of the limbs. The effect on the circulatory system starts with heartbeat disorders and a drop in blood pressure, but heart failure is not a common cause of death. In addition to dilation of pupils, a drop in body temperature and proliferation of white blood cells have also been obseryed (70). 

When starting a SSRI, the abrupt increase in serotonin may cause side effects. In the brain, the short-term effects include headache, sleep disturbance, nervousness, anxiety, and tremulousness. The digestive system effects include nausea, loose stools, decreased appetite, and indigestion. Most of these effects are mild and shortlived or can be managed with over-the-counter remedies. Nausea, for example, can be minimized by taking a SSRI after meals. These effects are also commonly seen with venlafaxine and duloxetine, atypical antidepressants that block serotonin reuptake like the SSRIs. 

Mai Ya, Shen Qu and Shan Zha are able to aid the digestion of wheat and rice, cereals, meat and fat, respectively. They are often used together when the pathogenic heat has injured the Qi of the Spleen and the patients have poor appetite and distension in the abdomen after meals. 

Poor appetite and nausea use Ban Xia (Pinelliae rhizoma) and Chen Pi [Citri reticulatae pericarpium) to soothe the Stomach-Qi and to promote digestion. 

Energy metabolism helps maintain normal digestion, appetite, and proper nerve function. 

In toxic doses (20%), gastric secretion is inhibited and peptic activity is depressed. From this, it is easy to deduce that small amounts of alcohol stimulate appetite and aid digestion, but large amounts may produce indigestion. Alcohol is also a carminative substance in that it facilitates the expulsion of gas from the stomach. 

Mice were fed diets containing < <-cyclodextrin.59,60 Alpha-cyclodextrin was neither digested nor absorbed by the animals. At the highest dose (24% a-cyclodextrin in the diet), weight loss, poor appetite and gas accumulation in the colon occurred. Late in the study, the animals adapted to the diet containing the large amount of cyclodextrin. 

The drug is used to stimulate the appetite and facilitate digestion. 

ACUTE HEALTH RISKS (Molybdenum and insoluble molybdenum compounds) irritation of eyes, nose and throat, weight loss, listlessness, diarrhea, and digestive disturbances in animals symptoms of acute poisoning, based upon animal experiments, include coma, deaths from heart failure, liver and kidney damage. (Soluble molybdenum compounds (irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, loss of appetite, incoordination, dyspnea, anemia, and colic in animals. 

Peppermint stimulates appetite and aids in digestion and treatment of bowel disorders when taken internally. Hot peppermint tea stimulates circulation, reduces fever, clears congestion, and helps restore energy. Peppermint is also an effective treatment for tension headache when rubbed on the forehead. Some research has shown peppermint to be as effective as Extra-strength Tylenol in relieving headache. 

Bitter tonic Bitter-tasting substance that increases gastric secretions, tonifies the stomach, increases deficient appetite, and increases stomach acidity. These all aid deficient digestion. 

Actions and Uses.— Tonic and antiperiodic in intermittent and other fevers in loss of appetite, and weak digestion depending on debility in acute rheumatism, chorea in dogs, and constitutional or deep-seated ophthalmia in horses during convalescence from acute complaiots also during the exhaustion which follows influenza and other diseases. 

Appetite and weight control Gastric acidity and digestion Eryrthropoiesis... 

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