ITV’s Dr Amir Khan has shared his shift work health advice
A GP has issued a stark warning about working patterns, claiming humans are “not designed” for a particular type of schedule. According to the medical professional, shift work can have serious consequences for both physical wellbeing.
During a recent episode of his podcast No Appointment Necessary, Doctor Amir Khan offered guidance for those working shifts. Dr Amir, who is widely recognised from his appearances on ITV, stated: “Our bodies are not evolved to do shift work.
“Shift work is a modern thing that’s been thrust upon us – part of capitalism that has been thrust upon us that sees us more as functional units, rather than actual human beings.” He outlined how the human body isn’t built to cope with the irregular nature of shift patterns.
“So there is no easy answer to shift work, your body’s not designed to do shift work, your body’s not designed to stay up all night one week and then work days the next week,” he added. “You know I did a year and a half of A&E and I was doing shift work and I was trying to get sleep where I can but it is hard.”
Among his recommendations was getting rest “when you can”. He explained: “And I genuinely do not have the answer to that apart from sleeping when you can. It is always better to get into a rhythm and some people really like working nights and then sleeping through the day and having the day to do the stuff that they might want to do as well later on.” He ideally suggested maintaining consistent shift patterns.
Dr Amir explained: “If you can work consistently one shift for a period of time where your body can get into a rhythm that is better than switching and changing all the time but natural daylight, if you’re missing that that has its benefits as well.
“So it’s pros and cons, the long and short of it is, we’re not designed to do shift work.” The video’s caption on the podcast’s Instagram post stated: “Shift work might be normal… but it’s not natural.
“Dr Amir Khan explains why constantly switching between nights and days can seriously affect your body, sleep and health.”
The health dangers
His guidance is backed up by experts at UCLA Health in the United States. On its website, the organisation highlighted that shift work can have a “long-term” effect on health and wellbeing.
They stated: “The biggest health challenge facing shift workers is the interruption of circadian rhythm – your body’s physical, mental and behavioural processes that follow a 24-hour cycle. Circadian rhythms are influenced mainly by light and darkness.
“Shift work – especially at night – often disturbs the body’s systems regulated by circadian rhythm, including the sleep/wake cycle. The more years you work a shift schedule, the higher your risk of chronic health issues.”
These health problems include:
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Mental health disorders
- Metabolic disorders such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes
UCLA stated: “According to research, night-shift workers are three times more likely to suffer from a shift-related sleep disorder than people who work a day shift. Recognising the signs and getting treatment for a sleep disorder may help you avoid associated physical and mental health issues.”
What action to take
The UCLA team suggested that shift workers should concentrate on the following:
- Eating habits: consume high-quality, whole food wherever possible, and avoid eating between midnight and 6am to maintain typical eating patterns.
- Sleeping better: implement sleep strategies tailored for shift workers that suit your personal needs, work schedule and home circumstances
- Maintaining relationships: Share at least one meal with your family each day. Set aside time every week to connect with friends, either face-to-face or through video chat



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