The Grim Effects of the Graveyard Shift

Guest: Hans Van Dongen, PhD, Professor, Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Director, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University  Did you know working the graveyard shift can lead to an early grave? People who work nights and sleep during the day are at higher risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and some types of cancer. Researchers have always thought the problem had something to do with a person’s biological clock getting out of whack, but recent research might have uncovered that two clocks are involved.