Working Night Shifts Can Double A Woman's Risk Of Cancer
As if working women didn't have enough to worry about, now a new study
has shown that working late nights might actually increase one's
risk of developing breast cancer.
For the study, researchers at the Danish Cancer Society observed 18,500 women working for the Danish army between 1964 and 1999. The women were asked to complete a questionnaire which included questions on their working patterns, use of the Pill and HRT, sunbathing habits and whether they classified themselves as a ‘morning’ or ‘evening’ person.
The findings showed that night shift work was linked with a 40% increased risk of breast cancer compared with no night shifts. However, women who had worked night shifts at least three times a week for at least six years were even more likely to have contracted the disease, especially if they listed themselves as being a ‘morning’ type of person.
While there's still much to be researched about this link, one theory on why these women were more likely to develop the disease was possibly because they are more susceptible to body clock disruption. These findings can be found in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
via The Guardian
For the study, researchers at the Danish Cancer Society observed 18,500 women working for the Danish army between 1964 and 1999. The women were asked to complete a questionnaire which included questions on their working patterns, use of the Pill and HRT, sunbathing habits and whether they classified themselves as a ‘morning’ or ‘evening’ person.
The findings showed that night shift work was linked with a 40% increased risk of breast cancer compared with no night shifts. However, women who had worked night shifts at least three times a week for at least six years were even more likely to have contracted the disease, especially if they listed themselves as being a ‘morning’ type of person.
While there's still much to be researched about this link, one theory on why these women were more likely to develop the disease was possibly because they are more susceptible to body clock disruption. These findings can be found in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
via The Guardian
