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Does anyone know of any studies on the ill effects of working the night shift?

Issue
Is it better to work a straight night shift or a swing shift on a person's health?

Best Tip

it's probably kinder on your system if you get used to one pattern. however consider these 2 points: healthwise make sure you still see the sun and daylight ( depression, vitamin D deficiency....) it also might affect your social life if you are always asleep when people are not.

Others
My hubby has been working the grave yard shift for the last 5 years .With his job he wanted to get away from the riff raff ,so this is why he switched. I don't know how he does it ,but he's much happier and sleeps less. He'll be home by 7.30 am ,we eat breakfast together ,he'll hang out until I leave for work at 12.00 pm ,he'll sleep until 4 or 5 ,then stay awake and hang out until he leaves for work at 10.00 pm.It has no illeffects on him.

For me I did the grave yard shift for a year. I gained all sorts of weight ,I was constantly tired . I never really seen day light. On my days off all I did was sleep. I think it depends on each individual person on what kind effects it can have on them.

I know some people who work swing shifts .They get used to one shift ,then get switched to another ,it wreaks havoc on their bodies. It's better to work one shift.
Adjusting to a schedule that鈥檚 so different from "normal hours" is difficult. It works against the body鈥檚 natural daily rhythms, as well as society鈥檚: night workers find their schedules interfere with routine activities like shopping, attending their children鈥檚 school activities, and eating regular meals.

Graveyard shift workers have a significantly higher incidence of serious diseases and disorders.

The major health hazards of working nights or rotating shifts include:

Sleep Deprivation. Getting enough "quality sleep" is a serious challenge for workers on the night shift. Sleep is vital, because it restores the brain and organs to keep the body running smoothly. Over time, too little sleep will raise the risks for high blood pressure and stroke. The nerve and chemical messages that control the heart鈥檚 activity follow a regular 24-hour pattern, which doesn鈥檛 change even when the sleeping schedule does. One result: levels of the hormones needed to help workers stay alert and handle the problems they鈥檒l encounter on their night shift do not naturally adjust to unusual hours. This puts added stress on the heart, increasing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases among those on the graveyard shift. Their rate of heart disorders is 40% higher than that of daytime workers.
Research shows that daytime sleep is lighter and not as restful as nighttime slumber. The effects of sleep deprivation can include poor coordination; irritability, anxiety or depression; and short-term memory loss. The immune system may become run-down, increasing the likelihood of becoming ill. This explains why graveyard workers have more colds, flu, and even menstrual problems than people with traditional hours.

Diet and Digestion Members on the night shift will probably be more prone to upset stomachs, ulcers, indigestion and constipation than those who work conventional hours. The incidence of stress-related gastrointestinal disorders is up to 150% higher among people working the graveyard shift. They鈥檙e far less likely to eat a nutritious diet, partly because they don鈥檛 get a chance to have meals at home with their families. With cafeterias and restaurants apt to be closed, vending machines may be their main source of food at work. When choices are available, night workers will often choose fatty foods for their 3 a.m. "lunch" breaks.

Weight Problems. The incidence of obesity is significantly higher among graveyard workers, which greatly increases their risk of diabetes. People may gain 20 or 30 pounds during their first months on the night shift. What鈥檚 the cause of all these difficulties? The unusual sleep and eating patterns of working at night disrupt normal digestive patterns, which follow a "circadian rhythm" of the physiological changes in a 24-hour day.

Cancer. Strange as it seems, the graveyard shift may even increase cancer risk. A major study by Harvard University found that nurses who鈥檝e been working at night at least three times a week, for 15 or more years, are 35% more likely to develop colorectal cancer than nurses who never have night duty. The researchers鈥?theory is that lower levels of melatonin, a hormone which helps to regulate sleep, may be a possible cause of greater cancer risk.

Substance Abuse. Many shift workers turn to both prescription or over-the-counter drugs to help keep them awake and alert through the night. They may use sleeping pills, alcohol, or barbiturates to encourage sleep, and then turn to caffeine or stronger stimulants while they鈥檙e working, when they鈥檙e expected to be productive. Unfortunately, no matter how many cups of coffee a member drinks during the graveyard shift, the impact is minimal because the body still knows it鈥檚 actually the time for sleep.
Depending on what time you where born, you have an inner bio-rhythm that dictates which hours your body is comfortable with, as far as when you sleep, and when you want to be awake. I worked 3rd shift for a short while. I just didn't sleep at all. For me, my own comfort zone is 2nd shift.
I dont know if there been any studies. I work shift work. 12 hour shifts. It does take a toll on the body. It is impossible to have a regular sleep pattern.