Not only the duration but also the daily time, your work may affect health. On an irregular schedule, in contrast to the typical schedule from nine to five, often medical staff, police officers, truck drivers, firefighters, and many others.
The researchers examined the possible effects of irregular work schedule, although most of the studies either have been of a Supervisory nature. This means that many studies can reveal certain risks for the population, although a clear causal relationship cannot be confirmed yet.
1. Lack of sleep
In a 2012 study, researchers from the University of Iowa (University of Iowa) examined the question of how working night shifts affects police officers. Those who worked at night, 14 times more likely to not comply with recommended standards of sleep duration compared to those who worked during the day.
In addition, deteriorating quality of sleep bad sleep 44% of those who worked the day shift, 60% of those who worked in the evening, and 69% of those who worked the night shift.
2. The deterioration of mental health
It is known that poor sleep is associated with fatigue and bad mood. This is true even if the employee is continuously working in night shifts and sufficiently resting in the morning. And this is due to social exclusion.
I worked in a hospital at night and realized what a social isolation that accompanies such work. You get invitations to different meetings and you think they will go, and only then realize that at this time going to sleep. If you sacrifice sleep for the sake of communication with people, you still will be unhappy, ‘ says U.S. doctor and writer James Hamblin (James Hamblin).
3. Diabetes mellitus type 2
Violation of the sleep cycle also means disrupting the meal and changes in the level of stress. Such factors can influence the level of blood sugar. In one observational study Chinese scientists have identified that working in shifts is 9% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to their colleagues working in normal mode.
In the same study it was also observed sexual difference: men, working in shifts, the probability of developing diabetes was higher than in women.
4. Cancer
Working the night shift was classified as a probable carcinogen in 2007, that is, working night shifts may have a higher risk of developing cancer compared to the rest of the population. Exposure to light (especially from screens of electronic devices) at night might also contribute to the development of cancer.
Night shift can change the structure of activity and sleep, suppress melatonin production and disrupt the functioning of genes contributing to the development of tumors, – reads the statement of the International Agency for research on cancer (International Agency for Research on Cancer).
Using materials Medical Daily
Dmitry Kolesnik