Does working the night shift increase the risk of cancer?
Ans. Various studies have shown an association between night shift work and an increased risk of cancer, perhaps due to adjusted circadian rhythms or lower levels of melatonin in the blood. Nonetheless these studies haven’t proved that shift work causes cancer. In fact, many of the studies linking shift work and cancer have serious disadvantages — such as difficulty controlling for known cancer risk factors, such as smoking. Also switching from night shift to the day shift isn’t likely to change your overall cancer risk. Nevertheless, you can take other steps to help prevent cancer. For example: * Avoid using tobacco. * Increase the intake of a variety of healthy foods. * Include physical activity in your daily routine. * Defend yourself from the sun. * Abstain from alcohol, or limit alcohol consumption. * Ward off risky behaviors, such as sharing needles and having unprotected sex.
