2023-06-15 19:51:54
Lack of sleep will increase multiple health risks. Some scholars believe that sleep acts like a “fork electricity” to help the body recover. However, shift work has been proven to cause sleep disorders and increase the risk of heart disease, dementia, and emotional disorders. Night shifts It has also been classified as a “potential human carcinogen” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. And whether it is a fixed night shift or a rotating shift, it will have an impact, because employees often return to their normal work and rest during holidays, which is a disguised form of “self-control jet lag”, making it even more difficult to sleep well.
Chen Wing-yan, an associate professor of the Department of Psychiatry at CUHK, said that sleep is like a “fork electricity” for the human body, which restores the energy consumed during the day and eliminates bad substances in the body, while restoring muscles and immunity. Human beings are diurnal animals, and their biological clock is “work at sunrise and rest at sunset”, and the greater the difference between shift work or overnight work and the natural rhythm, the more obvious the impact on the body, such as experiencing jet lag, prone to eyestrain, Fatigue and gastrointestinal discomfort, long-term shift work will increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, dementia, mood disorders and cancer. “The International Agency for Research on Cancer has listed night shift work as a potential human carcinogen.”
Less exercise among shift workers exacerbates risk
Chen continued to point out that according to the guidelines of the International Labor Organization, if you start working for no less than 7 consecutive hours between 12:00 p.m. For example, some people have morning-type and night-type physiques, and the work intensity, length of time and rest periods during shifts are also affected.”
She continued to point out that shift workers generally do less exercise, and like to eat snacks and drink alcohol when they are on duty at night, which will also make them prone to obesity and increase health risks. In addition, sleep-deprived people are more likely to get sick when they are exposed to viruses, such as the common cold virus; lack of sleep when sick can also affect the speed of recovery.
“Changing time zones” during holidays is even more harmful to the body
Even young people don’t “stay up all night”. Chen pointed out that international studies have shown that sleep loss has a significant impact on health in both young and old groups. Going to work, or working morning, followingnoon and evening shifts, some people will still get up early and go to bed late like ordinary people during the holiday break, which is like going to a different time zone to rest following work, which will also cause the disorder of the biological clock.”
Chen pointed out that most of the people who seek help for sleep disorders due to shifts are middle-aged people. “One of the reasons is that the quality of sleep will decline with age. Work during the day, so that the body is more affected.” In one case, the patient suffered from insomnia and dozing off at the same time. It is more difficult to adjust the sleep time following the early shift, and there will be emotional problems.” She suggested that shift workers should make a sleep plan to ensure that they fall asleep on a regular basis every day and sleep for 7 hours. “It is best not to go back to the night shift. In the morning, I went out to have fun with my friends, and I lacked a regular rest.”
Reporter: Tuo Zhiqing
Art: Zhao Runhong
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