Hello and welcome to HealthiNation, I’m Dr. Paul Knoepflmacher. The graveyard shift, or a “swing-shift” – it means working at night, or working a day that isn’t nine to five. It sounds grueling, and you may be surprised to know that nearly six million Americans work the night shift – and it’s not just truck drivers and factory workers. Shift workers are cops, and nurses, doctors and I-T professionals. Soldiers, flight attendants, and waitresses. Newspaper reporters and mail sorters – all these folks work off hours, and many times it can affect their health – sometimes it can even be dangerous. The sleep-wake cycle is controlled by a section of the brain called the circadian clock. This tiny group of brain cells control the release of a hormone called melatonin. When this hormone is released in the body, you become sleepy. Our circadian clock is built to release melatonin when the sun sets and it becomes dark outside. In the morning, the circadian clock reacts to light by suppressing melatonin production– helping you to wake up. So, shift workers need to fight the effects of melatonin on the job – when it’s dark. And, when they get home and try to sleep, their bodies don’t release melatonin because it’s light outside. This often results in poor sleep. Sometimes the effects of shift work can lead to a diagnosis of Shift-work Sleep Disorder. This is a real condition, and its symptoms include the followin 27-Excessive sleepiness – or difficulty staying awake -Insomnia – or trouble falling or staying asleep -Difficulty concentrating -Headaches, or -Lack of energy Those with Shift-Work Sleep Disorder are at higher risk of accidents at work. They also call in sick more, and health problems like ulcers, and depression are more common in this population Aside from sleeping problems, shift work can lead to digestive problems and weight gain. It all comes back to that natural circadian rhythm – which helps your body break down and eliminate food. Disrupting the cycle can cause nausea, bloating and gastritis or inflammation of the lining of the stomach. Shift workers are also likely to skip regular meals and snack more – many times on junk food. Women who work a night, or swing shift may experience irregular periods and fertility problems. Finally, shift workers may be at a higher risk of certain cancers. In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has now listed shift work that involves a circadian disruption as a probable cause of cancer. That’s because melatonin – which helps you sleep – also slows tumor development. For women, there is an increased risk of breast cancer and for men, an increased risk of prostate cancer.Almost all of us need to work, and for many people a rewarding career sometimes involves shift work. That doesn’t mean you’ll have complications – but it is something to keep in mind. If you have any of the symptoms of shift-work sleep disorder, or are concerned about the health effects of your job, talk to your doctor.