Night shift jobs3/15/2023 ![]() The long-term effects of shift work are harder to measure. Increased risk of injuries and accidents.Gastrointestinal symptoms like upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn.Aside from the obvious fatigue, effects include: Even if you're not a shift worker yourself, you've probably experienced the equivalent effects - maybe after a transatlantic flight, an all-nighter in college, or a few nights with a wailing newborn. The short-term health effects of shift work are clear. That appears to have serious consequences. Shift work disrupts the circadian rhythm - our internal body clock that is keyed to natural daylight and darkness.īecause circadian rhythm affects how the body functions, disrupting it can throw everything out of whack - including our cardiovascular system, metabolism, digestion, immune system, and hormonal balance. ![]() On a fundamental level, being awake at odd or irregular hours fights with our biological rhythms. They might find it harder to exercise regularly, and may be prone to eat junk food out of a handy vending machine, says Scheer.īut Scheer and other experts believe a significant part of the problem with shift work is physiological. They might feel isolated, since their jobs cut them off from their friends and families. People who do shift work tend to have sleep disturbances and sleep loss. In terms of lifestyle, working odd hours leads to some obvious problems. Some of it may have to do with the lifestyle that shift work encourages. How Does Shift Work Affect Us?Įxperts say that shift work could have a serious impact on our health in at least two ways. How serious are those dangers - and can they be reduced? Unfortunately, we don't have all the answers yet. Even a personal trainer who works out at the gym with clients in the early mornings and evenings is a shift worker.Īs shift work has become more widespread in the U.S., the health risks have become a focus both for researchers and for the businesses that employ shift workers. include police officers, firefighters, nurses, doctors, pilots, waitresses, truck drivers, and many more professionals. The millions of shift workers in the U.S. The Many Faces of Shift WorkersĪccording to the National Sleep Foundation, a shift worker is not just someone who works nights, but anyone who works outside a steady 9 to 5 schedule. Shift work is also linked to stomach problems and ulcers, depression, and an increased risk of accidents or injury. "These differences we're seeing can't just be explained by lifestyle or socioeconomic status." "There is strong evidence that shift work is related to a number of serious health conditions, like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity," says Frank Scheer PhD, a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. But there's a growing sense that shift work could be taking a serious toll on their health. For many, it's a rite of passage in their careers for others, it's a financial necessity. In the U.S., about 8.6 million people perform shift work, whether they have a night job or rotate shifts during the week.
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