BIOL 4310 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, Circadian Rhythm, Shift Work
30 Mar 2020
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Lecture 16 march 12 the effects of shift work and circadian misalignment on health. Goals of shift work research: improve worker health/well-being, optimize schedules, develop adjustment strategies, increase productivity, decrease workplace accidents. Shift work = permanent or rotating night shifts (essentially not your typical 9-5). Shift work is becoming more common, has negative effect on worker health (acute and chronic) Acute effects result from disturbed sleep schedule digestive issues, stress, social life, mental health, substance abuse, etc. Chronic effects incl increased diabetes (type 2), metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular problems (hypertension), cancer (breast, prostate, colon) Can"t adjust properly because body continues entraining to daylight (stays diurnal) regardless of when awake or asleep. Day sleep is less effective (less rem and stage 2 sleep), get approx. 4 hr less of sleep after night shift. Many adjustment strategies: more light at work and less during the day, melatonin before sleep (to improve daytime sleep), napping before night shift (increases alertness during shift), exercise.
