Health risks for women who work night & bull; hello healthy

Working at night certainly has many negative effects. But sometimes work requires us to work at night, especially if you are a pilot, security guard, hospital officer, 24-hour shopkeeper, employees in bars and cafes that are open at night, and so on. For those who work at night, of course they will lack time to rest. Even though some of them sleep for 6-8 hours during the day and feel like they are living normally, this certainly will not be normal for their bodies.

Human body cycle

In carrying out the system, the human body will naturally work according to cycles. Based on an extensive study of physiological cycles, the digestive process consists of three cycles based on three body functions, namely absorbing food juices, digesting food, and removing food waste. Even though the three functions are active simultaneously, each of them will work intensively for eight hours at a certain time.

1. At 12.00-20.00 the digestive process occurs

This entire cycle is a good time to fill the stomach with solid food. If you don't fill your stomach during this cycle, you will feel very hungry.

2. At 20.00-04.00 the absorption process occurs

Throughout this cycle, the process of absorption of most of the food substances that have been digested and the distribution of food substances to all parts of the body occurs. Therefore, sleeping late or eating late at night can reduce the supply of energy needed for the absorption process. Resistance to one cycle can mess up the next.

3. At 04.00-12.00 the disposal process occurs

At this stage, a lot of waste will be removed, so that many people feel they have no appetite in the morning. This is very natural, because the body is going through a cycle of disposal. The body does not really need solid foods such as rice and meat which are difficult to digest during that time. Instead, by eating foods that are difficult to digest, the body will lack energy for the disposal process.

What are the consequences if our body cycles are reversed?

Work shift night makes our body cycle does not follow the normal cycle. What should be the time for the body to rest and absorb food from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., instead we use it for activities, and even eat. On the other hand, during the hours when the body is supposed to be excreting or digesting, we are sleeping.

How does it affect the body?

1. Sleep disturbance

About 10% of workers who work at night have sleep disorders, including insomnia, excessive sleepiness, and difficulty staying awake at work. Dr. Charles Samuels, medical director Center for Sleep and Human Performance in Calgary, that worker states shift is a person who is deprived of his right to sleep. Even though they could change their sleep schedule to morning or afternoon, it would still be very difficult because it conflicts with the body clock.

2. Risk of type 2 diabetes

According to a study published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine of 226,652 participants, those who worked nights had a 1.09 times greater risk of developing diabetes. Then, the next study in the journal PLoS Medicine shows that workers have working time shift risk of developing type 2 diabetes, it is caused by the impact of changing time on insulin activity which causes blood sugar to rise in the body.

3. Long-term obesity

Sleeping too little or sleeping not in accordance with the body clock will lead to obesity, as produced by research in Bringham and Women's Hospital . Because night workers often have a difficult time sleeping during the day, they face two circadian disruptions from working at night and lack of sleep during the day. Obesity occurs due to a decrease in leptin (a hormone that regulates body weight) and can result in a twofold increase in appetite as well as an increase in blood sugar levels due to changes in insulin activity.

4. Increase the risk of heart disease

Working at night can increase your risk of heart disease, according to research published in British Medical Journal. The study involved 34 studies, and the results showed that workers who worked at night had a 7% risk of heart attack, 1.6% ischemic stroke, and 7.3% coronary heart disease.

How does it affect women?

A study from Denmark found that those who worked nights had an 85% higher risk of miscarriage than normal workers. In fact, a 2010 study in Italy showed a link between work shift , the risk of early birth, and low birth weight.

According to data collected from US Nurses Health Study which involved 240,000 nurses and was observed for 30 years, showing, working women shift nights for several years have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, colon cancer, and cancer endometrium .

How can you prevent the ill effects of night work?

If you are pregnant, pay attention to your sleep adequacy and your weight. Get professional help if you don't get enough sleep or have trouble sleeping. And, if you've been working nights for a few years, talk to your doctor about taking a melatonin supplement. These supplements tend to be safe, but quite complex and you will need expert guidance to use them.