Can Working Shifts Affect Your Health?
By Tom Herrin
Many places in the world are far different from the way things were in their grandparents' time. What was once the exception may now be the rule for many. One of those is the way in which people work. Not only is the workplace itself very different, but the hours people spend there are as well. It was once considered the norm to work days and be free on evenings and weekends. Today millions of Americans work some kind of shift. Some estimates have it as over 8 million. While there may be some good incentives for people to do so, there are also some risks to health and family structure.
There Are Some Natural Drawbacks
When people work shifts, they often spend quite a bit of their time alone, or at least away from other family members. This may mean eating fewer healthy meals and relying on junk or fast foods. It is also difficult for them to sleep well. It is believed that those who work shifts have more sleep issues. For many, sleeping when others are active is a challenge in itself. It may be difficult to get any quality exercise due the fact that they simply cannot get into any kind of good routine. Some studies have shown a greater risk of serious heart problems associated with those who work shifts.
Is There a Fix?
While there are a variety of problems for those who work shifts to deal with, there are also some things that may be done to help. They may sound simple but may require some real planning to make them work. One is to get regular exercise. This may be essential to avoid some problems. Another is to find some way to develop a sleep schedule that allows them to get a reasonable amount of sleep on a regular basis. Many believe that it may be healthier for a shift worker to work full time on the same shift rather than any kind of rotating shifts. Some businesses have gone to this in order to make a healthier situation for their employees.
Take the Bull By the Horn
If you are one of those who face this each day, all is not lost. You must be a good planner and a disciplined one. Developing a schedule that can work for you is personal but may need to include other family members as you plan. Be sure to include the right kind of allowances for quality family time in the schedule. No matter how good the job, it is never a good idea to be the silent parent who is never available for any family activities because you are on a different schedule. If you shifts, make a plan to deal with this for your own health.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Redmond, Wash.