Private MD News

Dangerous cardiac events may be more common among shift workers

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Employees who are on shift work schedules may be more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke, compared to individuals who have regular daytime assignments, according to new research. These findings suggest that shift workers may benefit from regular cholesterol tests.

Previous studies have suggested that shift work can disrupt the body's natural rhythms, potentially leading to problems with blood pressure and levels of glucose and cholesterol. In order to investigate further, researchers from Canada reviewed 34 preexisting studies that evaluated more than 2 million study participants.

According to the results, employees who had irregular shift work hours had a 23 percent higher risk of heart attack, 24 percent greater likelihood of coronary evens and 5 percent elevated risk of stroke, compared to those who did not have this type of schedule. Coronary events were most strongly tied to those on the night shift.

The researchers suggest that individuals who have shift work may benefit from regular medical evaluations, including cholesterol tests and blood pressure screens, in order to gauge their cardiovascular risks. They also say that further research is needed to identify the employees who face the greatest health threats.