A new study has revealed that non-traditional shifts can disturb much more than your lifestyle and sleeping habits. The study published in the journal Menopause, also revealed that shift work may delay natural menopause because of possible disruptions in circadian rhythms.
Shift work has increased globally in recent years and reports suggest an estimated 20 per cent of the economically active population in North America and Europe working some type of non-traditional or alternating shifts. Shift work is not without its health risks. Previous studies have linked shift work with an increased risk of coronary events, with the highest risk being associated with night shifts. Other health problems include peptic ulcers, type 2 diabetes, and cancers such as prostate, colorectal and breast.
While there are multiple studies on the various adverse health effects of shift work on adults, not much research has been done on the effect of shift work on middle-aged and older adults. Age of natural menopause is a matter of concern for middle-aged and older women because both early or late menopause may be a significant risk marker for subsequent morbidity and mortality.
This new study, based on secondary data analyses of nearly 3,700 premenopausal women, aimed to investigate the association between shift work exposure and variations in age at natural menopause in adult Canadian workers. Dr. Stephanie Faubion, NAMS medical director, said, “This study shows a potential influence of circadian regulation on age at natural menopause, with current rotating shift work linked to later age at menopause and current night shift work linked to earlier age at menopause.”
She added, “Whether these differences in age at menopause are directly related to the effect of circadian rhythm changes on underlying hypothalamic regulation or are because of other socio demographic factors such as chronic stress, economic insecurity, and substance use or abuse requires further study.”
