Health and Me

Aarushi Bhadury

Morning Vs Night Vs Rotating: Neurologist Ranks The Best Shifts Timing For Your Health

With different careers come different work expectations. Some jobs have routine day shifts with regular working hours, popularly known as the ‘9-5’. While other jobs require round-the-clock service. However, did you know what shifts you chose to do have an effect on your health as well? 

Ranking the best to worst shifts, Dr Sudhir Kumar, a Hyderabad-based neurologist, recently made a post on his social media platform. He explained that the way you schedule your work shifts can have a major impact on your long-term health. The ideal work schedule is one that matches your body's natural clock. Below is a ranking of three common shift types, based on their effects on your health. 

<h2>Day Shifts: The Healthiest Option </h2>

<h4>Why Day Shifts are Best for Your Body </h4>

Working during the day perfectly matches your circadian rhythm, or internal clock. Your body is naturally built to be awake when it's light and rest when it's dark, allowing vital processes like hormone production and cell repair to function efficiently and keep your system stable. 

Day shifts allow for quality, full sleep, which is crucial for long-term health. Workers face a lower risk of serious issues like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. This stable routine also lowers the risk of depression, anxiety, and certain cancers, making it the healthiest choice. 

<h2>Fixed Night Shifts: Acceptable but Not Ideal </h2>

<h4>Partial Adaptation to Night Work </h4>

If night work is unavoidable, a consistent fixed night shift is superior to a constantly changing schedule. The benefit is that the body can establish a slightly more consistent sleep routine over time, allowing for a better partial adjustment to the reversed daytime sleep schedule than an erratic one. 

<h4>Significant Remaining Health Risks </h4>

However, stable night shifts still cause chronic misalignment with the natural day-night cycle. This leads to higher long-term risks of metabolic disorders, insulin resistance, and mood problems. Additionally, it disrupts social and family life, contributing to ongoing sleep deprivation and substantial health risks. 

<h2>Rotating Shifts: The Worst for Health </h2>

<h4>Maximum Disruption to the Body Clock </h4>

Constantly changing shifts are the most harmful because the internal clock cannot adapt to the varying schedule. This causes the maximum possible circadian rhythm disruption, confusing the body about when it should be awake, resting, or performing essential processes. 

<h4>Increased Risk of Serious Illness </h4>

This chaotic schedule is linked to severe sleep issues and unhealthy fluctuations in stress hormones. This increases the risk of serious illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mood disorders. Rapid shifts, like moving from night to morning duty, dangerously increase fatigue, raising the risk of accidents. 

<h2>Final Ranking for Long-Term Health </h2>

At the end of the post Dr Kumar reiterated that the best to worst working hours for your body. 

<ul><li>Day Shift (Best)</li><li>Fixed Night Shifts (Moderate Risk)</li><li>Rotating Shifts (Worst Risk)</li></ul>

While there are ways to manage your health around your working hours, it is important to make sure you give your body as much stability as possible. Make sure you speak to a healthcare professional and build a routine that will help your body maintain its level of functioning while also keeping your health in check.

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With different careers come different work expectations. Some jobs have routine day shifts with regular working hours, popularly known as the ‘9-5’. While other jobs require round-the-clock service. However, did you know what shifts you chose to do have an effect on your health as well? Ranking the best to worst shifts, Dr Sudhir Kumar, a Hyderabad-based neurologist, recently made a post on his social media platform. He explained that the way you schedule your work shifts can have a major impact on your long-term health. The ideal work schedule is one that matches your body's natural clock. Below is a ranking of three common shift types, based on their effects on your health. Day Shifts: The Healthiest Option Why Day Shifts are Best for Your Body Working during the day perfectly matches your circadian rhythm, or internal clock. Your body is naturally built to be awake when it's light and rest when it's dark, allowing vital processes like hormone production and cell repair to function efficiently and keep your system stable. Benefits of a Stable Schedule Day shifts allow for quality, full sleep, which is crucial for long-term health. Workers face a lower risk of serious issues like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. This stable routine also lowers the risk of depression, anxiety, and certain cancers, making it the healthiest choice. Fixed Night Shifts: Acceptable but Not Ideal Partial Adaptation to Night Work If night work is unavoidable, a consistent fixed night shift is superior to a constantly changing schedule. The benefit is that the body can establish a slightly more consistent sleep routine over time, allowing for a better partial adjustment to the reversed daytime sleep schedule than an erratic one. Significant Remaining Health Risks However, stable night shifts still cause chronic misalignment with the natural day-night cycle. This leads to higher long-term risks of metabolic disorders, insulin resistance, and mood problems. Additionally, it disrupts social and family life, contributing to ongoing sleep deprivation and substantial health risks. Rotating Shifts: The Worst for Health Maximum Disruption to the Body Clock Constantly changing shifts are the most harmful because the internal clock cannot adapt to the varying schedule. This causes the maximum possible circadian rhythm disruption, confusing the body about when it should be awake, resting, or performing essential processes. Increased Risk of Serious Illness This chaotic schedule is linked to severe sleep issues and unhealthy fluctuations in stress hormones. This increases the risk of serious illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mood disorders. Rapid shifts, like moving from night to morning duty, dangerously increase fatigue, raising the risk of accidents. Final Ranking for Long-Term Health At the end of the post Dr Kumar reiterated that the best to worst working hours for your body. Day Shift (Best)Fixed Night Shifts (Moderate Risk)Rotating Shifts (Worst Risk)While there are ways to manage your health around your working hours, it is important to make sure you give your body as much stability as possible. Make sure you speak to a healthcare professional and build a routine that will help your body maintain its level of functioning while also keeping your health in check.