Sleep deprivation and irregular sleep habits can increase the risk of cancer in people, says a study published in Current Biology. It is also reported in the study that women with family history of breast cancer should strictly avoid working in shifts.

Gijsbetus van der Horst, one of the researchers from the Erasmus University Medical Centre, Netherlands, said, "If you had a situation where a family is at risk for breast cancer, I would certainly advise those people not to work as a flight attendant or to do shift work," according to the BBC.

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The researchers noted that sleep debts and poor sleep habits increased the risk of cancer in mice. An increase in weight was also noted. Mice that are sleep-deprived and had irregular sleep patterns showed 20 percent increase in weight even if they consumed same amount of food with group that had sufficient sleep, reported Morning Ticker.

The investigators delayed the body clock of the mice for about 12 hours every week for over a year for the purpose of the study. When the results were studied after a year, it was found that the mice that were sleep-deprived or with disrupted sleep developed cancer earlier than expected. The researchers concluded that the mice that usually contracted tumours in 50 weeks developed the disease much earlier because of disrupted sleep patterns, Echo Examiner has learned.

Dr. Michael Hastings, from the UK's Medical Research Council, said, "I consider this study to give the definitive experimental proof, in mouse models, that circadian [body clock] disruption can accelerate the development of breast cancer." He also added, "The general public health message coming out of my area of work is shift work, particularly rotational shift work is a stress and therefore it has consequences."

The study suggests that people working in irregular shifts should be more concerned about their body weight and in getting regular breast examinations, said Hastings. He also added that the employers should offer their employees regular in-work health checks. Hastings finally noted that if a person is aware of this problem and is following the precautionary measures, he or she should make sure to inform other people as well. 

TagsCancer, Sleep habits, sleep deprivation, breast cancer, overweight