Study Shows Why the Heart's Not in Shift Work

Oct. 23, 2000
People who work a rotating shift schedule that includes staying up\r\nall night may be causing harm to their heart, researchers\r\nreport.

People who work a rotating shift schedule that includes staying up all night may be causing harm to their heart, Italian researchers report.

It appears the heart would rather be taking a rest at night, which may explain why shift workers are at greater risk of heart disease and other problems.

"Shift work is associated with an increased rate of heart disease and accidents," said lead author of the study Dr. Raffello Furlan of the University of Milan in Italy.

In their study, the researchers monitored the hearts of 22 healthy male shift workers.

These men worked a 5-day rotating shift schedule of three different shifts: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Under normal conditions, when people sleep at night and work during the day, the body''s nervous system peaks in the morning and stays high throughout the day.

During this time, chemicals in the body are released that help drive the digestive system, breathing and other functions, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

At night, the nervous system goes into a decreased activity mode, which allows for sleep.

According to the study findings published in the Oct. 17 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, shift work had only a minor impact on the body''s built-in clock that controls the nervous system.

The investigators found that the normal morning increase of nervous system activity was present regardless of work schedule.

"This resistance of the body''s internal clock to change with varied work schedules indicates that people don''t adapt as easily as we think to shift work, and could explain why shift workers are at higher risk" of heart disease, Furlan explained in a statement from the AHA.

The authors suggest that the conflicting messages that the heart is receiving -- the person''s desire to be up and doing physical work despite the body''s built-in clock, which causes it to rest -- may "play a role in the excessive rate of cardiovascular diseases in shift workers."

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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