Night Shifts Are Dangerous for Men

Night shifts may lead to prostate cancer in men

Men who are working night shifts have 3 times higher risk of developing prostate cancer

Men who are working night shifts have 3 times higher risk of developing prostate cancer than those with a daily work schedule, says Canadian study investigating the adverse effects of night work on the health of men. Night shifts increase the risk of many other cancers – bowel, bladder and lungs, says the team from the University of Quebec.
It is believed that the negative effect id due to the suppression of the hormone melatonin, which promotes the growth of tumors.
It was found that healthy sleep deprivation is another risk factor.
Previous studies have shown an association between the disease and work at night, but most are focused on a higher incidence of breast cancer in women. At last, however, it is clear that men are also affected.
Scientists say that night shifts harm your body because it inhibits the activity of melatonin, produced by the pineal gland in the brain. This hormone dictates the cycles of sleep.
The production of melatonin is normal during the night hours. But experts believe that exposure to light at night violates hormone production, beginning a chain of events in the body that can promote tumor development.
The new study included 3,137 men, who were diagnosed with different types of cancer. Researchers calculated the proportion of participants who worked at night and compared the results with the behavior of more than 500 healthy men.
It was found that night shifts almost triple the risk of prostate cancer and double that of colon cancer.
People who work at night are 76% more likely to develop lung cancer and the risk of bladder tumors is 70% higher.
The risk of prostate, colon and bladder cancer was highest when working at night for 10 years.
The results are reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com