Question

Describe some of the ways in which night work affects the circadian timing system and sleep. If you transferred to a night shift, how would this alter your circadian rhythms and sleep?

Answer 1

1. circadian timing rythm is nothing but the mental, physical, and behavioral changes that follow a routine.

2. circadian rythm works according to the light and darkness. Sleeping at night and awake at day time is the normal circadian rythm which is applicable to not only to humans but to other organisms, plants, and microbes.

3. Circadian rhythms determine the sleep pattern i.e. when to sleep and when to awake. In response to this, there is a secretion of a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin secretion signal is given by optic nerve to the brain i.e. if darkness is there then optic nerve signals to the brain for more production of melatonin due to which we feel sleepy.

4. If I get transferred to the night shift, like other normal humans my body also follows the circadian rythm. Night shift disturbs my routine cycle. As night sleep is very much important to the health, insufficient sleep changes the body's metabolic system.

5. Working at night shift means I am going against the biological clock so I will become less alert and night sleep urge will increases. It results in less attentive, less active which affects work life as well as health and mental state.