Late Nights Can Cause Cancer

Kohln, disruption of sleep patterns is certainly experienced by the workers that the schedule is always changing between day shift and night shift. To their surprise, an irregular schedule such can also increase the risk of cancer.

Although surprising, the notion that changes in biological clock may influence cancer risk is actually already appeared for a long time. In 2008, 38 women in Denmark who is believed to have breast cancer because it often worked at night shift.

Not only in women, increased risk of cancer also occurs in men. In 2007, a study in America showed that the increased risk of prostate cancer in men who often turn to work at night.

Quoted from ScienceDaily, Sunday (10/10/2010), the allegations were again studied by Thomas C Erren, researchers from the University of Cologne. The results published in the journal Deutsches International Arzteblatt latest edition.

In experiments in the laboratory, Thomas was able to prove that the animals are more prone to cancer when sleep patterns are often changed. Unfortunately he can not confirm that this conclusion applies also to humans.

But at least, this study successfully revealed the possibilities that make the cancer easily infect the night shift workers. Some of them are as follows.

The existence of bright light at night will reduce the production of melatonin, a compound that directly and indirectly prevent cancer growth.

Changes in sleep patterns will affect the brain to release glucocorticoid, a compound that can weaken the immune system.

Changes in sleep patterns are not directly make the growth of cells and tissues is more difficult to control.

Changes in sleep patterns make the body less than optimal in producing vitamin D.

Another possibility which also increases the risk of cancer in night shift workers is the change in lifestyle. When sued for the frequent late nights, workers tend to lack of exercise and smoking and drinking more alcohol.