Napping on the Night Shift and Impact on Blood Pressure and HRV among EMS Workers

Recent evidence linking exposure toshift work to cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as incidence of myocardial infarction seems to be greater among night shift workers compared to day workers. Repeated exposure tonight shift work causes disruptions in normal circadian patterns of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV), which cause anincreased risk of CVD. Recent data suggest that allowing shift workers to nap during night shifts may help to normalize BP and HRV patterns and, over time, reduce the risk of CVD. The risk of CVD related to shift work is elevated for emergency medical services (EMS) shift workers due in part to long-duration shifts, frequent use of night shifts, and a high prevalence of multiple jobs. Therefore, the effect of SBP and HRV in EMS night shift workers is analyzed through stimulated night work and it's effect on CVD is characterized.