A Chinese study on cancer and lack of sleep

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Sleep deprivation damages the structure of DNA in the human body and prevents it from repairing it, increasing the risk of genetic diseases such as cancer, according to a new study.

A group of researchers from the University of Hong Kong in China conducted a study of a group of local doctors to detect the effects of sleep deprivation on their health and found that night-time patrol doctors had greater damage to the DNA, and reduced levels of genetic activity associated with the repair of such damage.

Dr. Gordon Wong Tin Chun, co-author of the study, said that damage to DNA involved a change in the structure of genetic material, affecting the growth and function of cells in living organisms .

"These damages are usually irreversible, increasing the risk of developing diseases caused by genetic mutations such as cancers," said Wong, adding that the findings could apply to people performing similar work patterns to doctors performing irregular work schedules. And it's clear.

The study included 49 doctors from two local hospitals, including 24 doctors working in extra night patrols overnight, ie 5 to 6 patrols a month, the remaining 25 doctors not being subject to such night patrols.

After 3 days of sufficient sleep, the researchers took blood samples from all participants and from doctors, who had to work at night the next morning, after a long sleep deprivation.

The researchers found that doctors were talking at night with 30% of DNA compared to doctors who worked under normal working hours. They also found that damage to DNA increased by 25% after a night of severe sleep deprivation.

The researchers found that gene activity associated with DNA repair was lower among sleep deprived physicians.

The recommended sleep times vary by age group: an adult between the ages of 18 and 60 needs at least 7 hours of sleep per night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Professor Michael Irwin, head of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Hong Kong, said that the effects of sleep deprivation are not only physical, but psychological, and can affect the ability to take sleep. decisions.

"For doctors who work at night and deal with very technical issues like anesthesia or surgery, we should really try to reduce the number of actions taken overnight," Erwin said. "Maybe we should review our sleep habits, Respect for yourself".