Women who work night shifts might be at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease, new Canadian research suggested. Joan Tranmer, a nurse for 30 years who is now a full-time researcher and teacher, and a team of researchers from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., found that approximately one in five middle-aged women who do shift work has at least three of the risk indicators for heart disease.

The research looked at 227 women between the ages of 22 and 66 from two hospitals in south-eastern Ontario. The women were nurses, administrative employees and lab and equipment technicians who all worked a range of shift rotations. Within the group, 17 per cent had metabolic syndrome with three of the identified risk factors. High blood pressure was found in 38 per cent and most notable was that 60 per cent of participants had a high waist circumference.

I think maintaining a healthy body and diet is very essential to life. Nothing goes before health. Shift workers should exercise regularly and eat healthily in order to maintain a balance between working and health. We need to be fit in order to stay motivated in the work place.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2011/10/21/health-shift-workers-heart-risk.html