Does working night shifts cause cancer?

Question

I read a book which said that if you have to change your sleep patterns, your odds of getting cancer go way up.

I know there are a lot of us who have taken a job like that for a year or more and think we have adjusted OK. Sometimes there is a killer schedule like midnight to morning one week; early starts the next - no effort made to plan a transition.

Will this damage us long-term? The book read like it was recognised and would eventually be common knowledge. Huh, a bit late for us all! Am I right to be wary?

You always hear of such things with firemen or police or army being put down to stress. But they are groups who are constitutionally expected to have no right to object. When they die, they are honored. How fair is that? How much of the stress is from weird schedules?

Is distorting your sleep patterns a trigger-factor for cancer? It's a scary thought, because it is so preventable. And do people who sleep longer, live longer, as a group?

Hey, Barry, Ireland has a non-smoking policy in all workplaces including bars, so that's not the problem. Smokers are forced to go outdoors. The UK is going to do the same. Maybe you should relocate?

Answer 1

God I hope not. I work 11PM-7:30 AM, in a hospital pharmacy of all places. I have been on nights for about 2 and a half years now. I have had cervical cancer but that was caused by something else.

I know people on night shifts get sicker more. It's not normal to sleep during the day and be up all night. Working nights does cause abnormal sleep patterns, poor eating habits, and being stressed more often.

Answer 2

Changing your sleeping patterns and working nightshifts can not cause cancer. Remerber to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep is what's important it does not matter if it's during the night or day.
Cancer is a result of many biological and if your body is run down from lack of sleep your are more likely to easiley get the flu or cold because your immune system can not fight off illness as well.

Answer 3

I doubt the sleeping pattern is to blame by itself. Usually bad eating, smoking, drinking habits are more likely in an individual who has to deal with the stress of being in a situation like you described. I would imagine there are many more factors involved than just changing "when" you sleep.

I'm no scientist or doctor, but it's sounds like a far-stretched theory at best.

Answer 4

There is a scientific basis for this research finding. Melatonin is produced by exposure to darkness. Melatonin is an important hormone and antioxidant and low levels have been associated with increased risk for cancer. Obviously, night shift workers do not get the normal exposure to darkness. Consequently, they do not have normal Melatonin production at night.

Hope this was helpful. Best wishes.

Answer 5

I'm not the smartest cookie in the jar, but I do know that any stress in your life will accelerate illnesses. Insomnia, bad eating habits, obesity, and just worrying are some instances. Makes you wonder about that old saying "mind over matter". If bad thoughts and stress can trigger illness, can you think yourself into not getting sick? Can a healthy person actually sit and meditate to will herself to stay healthy? Could we be able to tell if it were so? I wish it were so easy

Answer 6

I haven't heard of this but it seems the list of things that cause cancer just keeps getting longer. It could be that people who sleep when it's light out may produce less melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that your pineal gland produces when it's dark. It induces sleep and is a very powerful antioxidant that may help prevent cancer.

Answer 7

Not that I've ever heard of. Changes in your sleeping pattern can trigger stress and the health effects that come from that (digestive problems, skin problems, irritability), but I've never heard of night shifts causing cancer. If that were the case, my father and boyfriend's father would have been stricken long ago!

Answer 8

I'm guessing that the reason shift work causes cancer is that the shift in sleeping patterns causes your immune system to work less efficiently.

Answer 9

I don't think so.
Workingnights is OK, but working to much, working overload, will make your body collapsed, It will ruin your organs, and finally it will end faster than normal people

Answer 10

yes cuz all your customers are smoking