Working shifts? Experts say it doesn’t matter how long you’re stuck in odd working hours—the increase in diabetes risk is the same.
In a recent report from The Huffington Post, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh separated 634 men and 477 women, 65 years old and above, into five groups: those who worked shifts for a year to seven years, for eight to 14 years, for 15 to 20 years, for 20 years and beyond, and those who didn’t work shifts at all.
They found that aside from a higher body mass index, participants who worked shifts were 1.4 times more at risk for diabetes compared with those who had jobs with regular hours. The risk doesn’t change whether the participants involved had been working shifts for a year or for 25 years.
As working shifts is an inescapable reality for many people, it’s very important to compensate for a disrupted circadian rhythm with ample sleep, right diet, and proper exercise to boost the body’s immune system.
(Screencap from Arrow courtesy of The CW)
