Is Call Center Work Really Bad for Your Health (Occupational Hazard)?

My long suspicion has finally been verified. Scientists have found that graveyard shift work (like the case of call centers in the Philippines) disrupts the circadian rhythm of the body.

According to Wikipedia,

“Circadian rhythms are important in determining the sleeping and feeding patterns of all animals, including human beings. There are clear patterns of core body temperature, brain wave activity, hormone production, cell regeneration and other biological activities linked to this daily cycle. In addition, photoperiodism, the physiological reaction of organisms to the length of day or night, is vital to both plants and animals, and the circadian system plays a role in the measurement and interpretation of day length.”

The study suggests that for years, scientists have known that people who work night shifts are unusually prone to heart disease, bone fractures, cancer, diabetes and obesity. This is a very startling study and if it is true, then most people in the call centers have to be alarmed by this. Call center risks should be studied by the Department of Health through their own research and verify this report.

Here is the full article over Wired.com,

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/nightshift.html

Thanks to ThirdWorldGeek for this very informative info.