The Dark Side of Work

I have had first hand experience of the effect of inadequate sleep on my ability to function as a rational and normal human.

This was a particularly dark and bleak period now some 20 years ago being brought on by overwork, stress and what, with family support and having sought professional help, was actually nothing at all to worry about.

It was a case of my exhausted mind playing tricks.

We are only now really beginning to understand the damage done to a body by not only limited sleep but also at the wrong time.

This is certainly the case with those brave souls who work night shifts and in particular those who have done so for a long period.

It has always been the common opinion that our bodies have an infinite capacity to adapt to working a night shift but medical based findings have shown that this is just not the case.

This may explain why those on a long term night shift pattern have a higher incidence of diabetes, coronary heart disease and even cancer.

Our bodies are hard wired genetically, and this has developed over many thousands of years of evolution, to a 24 hour cycle of activity. Our vital organs only work properly when the DNA dictates in any cyclical pattern. Digestion of food is more efficient in the daytime again an explanation for higher levels of obesity in those who work at night.

Our metabolic system also functions differently in the hours of darkness,

Various studies have shown that our powers of reasoning, cognitive performance and processing are so impaired if still awake at 4am, as in a typical night working shift, so as to be similar to being under the influence of alcohol. It is therefore difficult to think straight at that time in the morning.

It is natural for us to sleep at night for many purposes, that of rest, relaxation and recuperation rather than putting in a few hours of work.

Scientific research involving wiring up the natural body-clock of a mouse to a set of lights gave an amazing insight into the way the brain and its electrical charges operate. The resultant on-off display has been applied to the study of the same programming in human DNA.

So what are the health implications for those who have to work on a long term night shift pattern?

They are pretty dire indeed.

After just 10 years of night working the brain can be seen as having aged 6 years beyond the normal expectation.

More sobering is the contention that life can be significantly shortened in the pursuit of employment overnight.

I have immense respect for those long term night shift workers that I have met over the years. One lady was in her fortieth year of such work at a fish processing factory in my home town. It was good, steady and paid employment but she seemed to be oblivious to the actual harm that persistent tiredness through lack of sleep was having on her physical well being.

Perhaps she was just too knackered to be bothered at all by it.