Late Shift & Your Health

If you are a late night worker, listen up. You might need to keep a closer eye on your health.

It's because new information is showing that late shift work could up your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

In this new study, researchers found it's not so much where you work, but more "when" you work that could be taking its toll on your health.

This study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that the risk of having one or two problems in particular, heart attacks or strokes, went up in those working irregular shifts. In other words, working anything other than normal daytime regular hours caused these problems with your health. Of the two, it mostly increased your chances of having a heart attack. This was true for any type of shift work, daytime, nighttime and in between. But it was even worse for those working night shifts.

Although they haven't quite figured out what is causing this, experts think it might have to do with shift workers getting less sleep, less physical activity and having worse eating habits. But it could also be due to the way shift work disrupts your circadian rhythm. This can have an affect on the body's heart rate and blood pressure which can then lead to an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.

So if you do work shift work, the best thing you can do for yourself if realize it might be raising your risk of health problems. It's even more important for shift workers to manage their blood pressure, cholesterol and overall health by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, especially when you're staring down those donuts at 2 a.m.