Plus, the night shift lifestyle is linked with behaviors that increase cancer risk, such as getting insufficient sleep, smoking, eating junk food and getting less sleep. Night-shift work has also been associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety and stress.

Is night shift really bad?

In 2007 the World Health Organisation said night shifts were a probable cause of cancer. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, it is a depressing enough list. But theres another one to add. Recent research showed the brains of workers whod done 10 years of night shifts had aged by an extra six-and-a-half years.

Is 7 hours of sleep enough?

While sleep requirements vary slightly from person to person, most healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night to function at their best. Children and teens need even more. And despite the notion that our sleep needs decrease with age, most older people still need at least seven hours of sleep.