Night-shades may boost female health

Monday January 10th, 2011

Women who sleep with eye-shades may be helping to reduce their risk of breast cancer, researchers have reported.

Those who fall asleep with the television and bedroom lights on may be aggravating their risk, according to a new study.

Researchers say the latest findings confirm fears raised from studies of night-working nurses that excessive exposure to light while sleeping may increase risk.

A study of some 1,670 women found sleeping with the lights on and without eye-shades was linked to a 22 per cent increased risk of developing breast cancer.

The study was conducted by the University of Haifa, Israel.

Researcher Professor Abraham Haim said the sleep hormone melatonin might play a role in helping prevent cancer. The hormone is produced when the body is in darkness.

He said: "Accelerating urbanisation worldwide and rising living standards have meant that electricity has become more accessible and affordable for wide segments of the population, resulting in increased light-at-night exposure both within peoples’ houses and in the streets outside their windows."

He added: "Simple solutions exist, such as the installation of window blinds in the bedroom, and also by the use of eye covers while sleeping."

Journal editor Professor Michael Smolensky said: “The novelty of the present study lies in the fact that this is the first large-scale, case-control study of the general population which has identified a significant positive association between bedroom light and ambient night-time light – or light pollution - levels with breast cancer risk.

"This study provides evidence that the relative risk of breast cancer appears to increase in more illuminated sleeping environments, leading us to conclude that the modern human sleeping habitat with its high light-at-night levels can and should be considered a significant breast cancer risk."

Chronobiology International February 2011, Vol. 28, No. 1 , Pages 76-80

Tags: Asia | General Health | Women’s Health & Gynaecology

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