Poorva Chavan
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Written By: Poorva Chavan | Updated : April 20, 2016 10:19 AM IST
People who work night shifts are more likely to suffer from various health problems. The changed sleep pattern affects the biological cycle which not only causes sleep disorder but also leads to stress, depression, digestive problems like acidity, indigestion and also increases your risk of lifestyle diseases.
You might think night shifts might affect men and women equally, but new research says exactly otherwise. It says that night shifts affect women's brain more than men's. The study found that the changes in the circadian rhythm had a stronger effect on the brain performance of women than men. It found that women were cognitively impaired after working night shifts.
Nayantara Santhi, one of the researchers from the University of Surrey says that the findings of the study are significant because they have been able to exhibit how changes in circadian rhythm affect men and women differently. Here s how working night shifts is making you sick
How does night shift affect one's heath?
The study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that the desynchronised sleep-wake cycle from the brain's 24-hour clock can cause impairment in mental skills such as attention, motor control and working memory. (Read: Why night shifts are horrible for your health)
How should you minimise the effects of night shift?
The first thing to do would be avoiding working in night shifts for a long time. Rotate your shifts and while changing from one shift to the other make sure you have slept well. For example, if you are transitioning from an evening shift to a late night shift, extend your time of sleep by an hour or two every night.
After a night shift make sure you sleep in a complete dark room with minimal noise exposure to help you sleep better.
Another important thing is the support you need from your family members. If there are household chores or other things that are to be taken care of during the day, others must realise that you need sleep and should take those tasks upon themselves.
Eating right is also paramount to reduce the effects of a night shift. Eat a low-fat diet and include plenty of fruits in your diet. Read more tips about minimising the effects on night shifts on your health.
Photo source: Getty images (Image for representational purpose only)
