There are many things that happen inside the body when we sleep. Because when we sleep, our intellect is consolidated, many injuries begin to heal, and our immune system and metabolism are enhanced. Therefore, it is not surprising that lack of sleep and disruption of the body's biological rhythm can lead to diseases, including cancer.
Many studies show that some sleep habits will increase the risk of cancer. People who work night shifts, sleep during the day and stay awake at night, sleep less than 7 hours a night or suffer from prolonged sleep deprivation will increase the risk of cancer, according to the health website Healthline (USA).
People who regularly sleep during the day and stay up at night for 10 years or more have a particularly high risk of getting cancer.
In a review published in 2019, the International Agency for Research on Cancer said that people who regularly sleep during the day and stay up at night for 10 years or more have a particularly high risk of developing cancer.
We all have an internal biological clock called the circadian rhythm or biological cycle. It is a 24-hour clock that regulates when we feel sleepy, sleepy, hungry, and awake.
Circadian rhythms also play a role in mood and mental health, metabolism and the regulation of blood cholesterol levels. This biological clock is controlled by light, meaning that when the sun rises, our bodies naturally wake up and when it gets dark, we get sleepy in preparation for bed.
For people who regularly stay up late, the natural order of their circadian rhythms is disrupted. This can change the way certain chemicals in the body work, such as the sleep hormone melatonin. This is a hormone secreted by the brain's pineal gland in response to darkness when the sun goes down, thereby stimulating the feeling of sleepiness.
However, what few people know is that melatonin also plays an important role in inhibiting the growth and spread of cancer cells. When your circadian rhythm is disrupted, melatonin levels in your body can decrease. This puts your body at a higher risk of developing cancer.
Another reason why sleep deprivation disrupts the circadian rhythm and increases the risk of cancer is because of the immune system being affected. A weakened immune system due to long-term sleep disruption will increase the risk of cancerous tumors.
A weak immune system due to long-term sleep disruption will increase the risk of cancerous tumors forming.
Staying up late at night and sleeping during the day also means a lack of exposure to daylight and therefore a lack of vitamin D. Some scientific evidence has found a link between low vitamin D levels and cancer risk.
For people who are forced to stay up late, such as night shift workers, if they cannot get their sleep to match their biological rhythm, experts recommend establishing a healthy lifestyle.
They need to eat a balanced, nutritious diet, exercise a lot, supplement with enough vitamin D, limit alcohol consumption, quit smoking and maintain a healthy weight, according to Healthline.
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