Question

Question 5: Modern lifestyles, including shiftwork

At least 20% of the adult population engages in shift work. Working at night, or frequently changing from a day shift to a night shift and back, is a risk for cancer and is associated with other pathological conditions as well.

1) What are some possible strategies for facilitating adaptation to the night shift and/or reducing its detrimental effects?

Answer 1

There are number of risk factors for health associated with working in shifts. These include diseases of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, metabolic disorders, reproductive and cancer. Working in shifts can be managed using some strategies as follows

· Using Stimulants like caffeine and oral drugs which increases alertness and performance

· Sleeping time during daytime after night shift can be increased using sedatives and melatonin to promote sleep

· Physical exercise during the working hours can increase alertness and performance

· Short-napping during night shift or before it can increase alertness or performance

· Use of bright light during night shift can improve alertness and performance.

· Reducing circadian misalignment by phase-shift in which the sleep time is adjusted according to the working schedule. For example, sleeping in the afternoon or evening before night shifts to adjust the circadian clock.

Therefore using different strategies like stimulants, naps, sedatives, bright light, physical exercise and reducing circadian misalignment can increase the alertness and working efficiency during night shifts.