Cancer from NOT SLEEPING?!?!?

Recently, the link between working graveyard (late-night) shifts and cancerous tumors has been taken more seriously. Originally the link was conjured by Richard Stevens, a cancer epidemiologist and professor at the University of Connecticut Health Center. He published a paper in 1987 describing the increase in breast cancer during the 1930s industrialized societies as a result of late night shifts. His hypothesis was considered crazy and ignored until now. Studies show that a reason for the increase in breast cancer or prostate cancer in late night workers could be due to the insufficient production of melatonin, a tumor suppressor. Melatonin is made only at night when the body is not exposed to light. Workers working under artificial light have lower melatonin than regular folk, which could be the factor making them more cancer-prone. Another possible theory is that working late at night weakens the immune system. Switching or disrupting the body's natural clock. A balance between light and dark schedule is also needed for a healthy body. Scientists are now experimenting with different colored lighting that would have the least amount of affect from producing melatonin. The most probable color workers could work under currently is red.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/night_shift_cancer

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/10/011017064917.htm

(the two site are pretty much talking about the same thing, so its all combined in one paragraph, or blob)


warning to all you late night prowler folk out there pushing your homework to 3 AM in the morning (like me. -__-) GET SOME SLEEP! (at night) do not abuse your circadian rhythm and body. I'd like to see you all healthy and lively (possibly more wrinkly with receding hairlines and bald patches) at our .. what 40th class reunion or something? o.O