Gastroenterologists like Ali Keshavarzian, MD, of Rush University Medical Center, in Chicago, often notice a clear pattern of worsening symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who work the night shift. Patients like the young police officer whose IBD went into remission when he switched to day work; his symptoms returned—costing him his colon—within two months of resuming the night shift.
“Patients say, ‘Stress doesn’t bother me unless it’s