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October 19, 2010
Working Around the Night Shift
People working the night shift have a greater chance of encountering health problems than their daytime counterparts, but being stuck on such a schedule shouldn't be an excuse to live an unhealthy lifestyle.
Between 15 to 20 percent of people living in developed countries now work night shifts. These workers tend to have more health problems than their daytime counterparts. Night shift workers have a higher incidence of insomnia, chronic fatigue, depression, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems, and cancer. In fact, the American Cancer Society now marks night shifts as a carcinogen or potential cancer-causing factor.
Some health practices include:
• Go to bed as soon as possible and for at least eight hours.
• Stick to your sleep schedule.
• Put your phone on silent and get black out blinds to simulate the night.
Additionally, night shift workers to perform at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise most days of the week and to exercise before their shifts.
When it comes to eating habits, stay hydrated with water and avoid alcohol and caffeine before bedtime, eat only when hungry, plan low-fat meals and include vegetables whenever possible, and supplement with vitamin D.
Posted by Lisa at October 19, 2010 9:19 AM
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