Night Shift And Cancer

passing thru · Jun 13, 2003

My understanding is that colon cancer is associated with obesity, lack of exercise, red meat diets, (people who eat red meat 3-4 times per week)..and smoking.

I think the night shift crew is heavier. They get tired and are snacking a lot- - - to get their energy levels up.

JMP · Jun 14, 2003

Originally posted by passing thru
My understanding is that colon cancer is associated with obesity, lack of exercise, red meat diets, (people who eat red meat 3-4 times per week)..and smoking.
I think the night shift crew is heavier. They get tired and are snacking a lot- - - to get their energy levels up.

Reseach is showing that eating red meat is not a factor in colon cancer- yes excerise is indicated as a prevention factor...as is a diet high in fruit and vegetable intake. However, regular exercise, eating lots of fruits and veggies and watching your weight all go together.... and make for a healthly lifestyle.

Another strong factor is Vitamin D- which is of course the sunshine vitamin and it is a strong indicator in colon cancer. If people live in southern states- and have regular doses of sunshine....their risk of colon and breast cancer are much lower.

I am sure working nights and not getting much sunshine is part of it- however, an even higher indicator is hormonal stressors, etc working nights.

Make no mistake working nights is not good for your overall health in the long term.

sbic56, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2003

Originally posted by passing thru
My understanding is that colon cancer is associated with obesity, lack of exercise, red meat diets, (people who eat red meat 3-4 times per week)..and smoking.
I think the night shift crew is heavier. They get tired and are snacking a lot- - - to get their energy levels up.

Actually the colon cancer/ night shift connection has more to do with a disruption in the meletonin production than diet according to recent studies. Makes sense to me:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/06/04/cancer.nightshifts.reut/

Good_Queen_Bess · Jun 15, 2003

So then, not only do we have one of the most hazardous jobs in terms of:

(a) abuse & violence

(b) stress

(d) Inadequate staffing level = possible unsafe practice, more of the above

(e) Low moral, poor support and crap wages

(f) Moving & Handling

Due to putting strain on the body because of shift work, we also have a higher risk factor of premature DEATH.

Nice to know isn't it.

:chuckle You've gotta larf (or cry)!

nec · Jun 15, 2003

does anyone know if there is research out including men as nurses working 11-7 and ca thanks nec

everthing happens for a reason

Momma_Penguin · Jun 15, 2003

I almost always worked the night shift. I can understand the havoc it does to your body, esp the sunlight deprivation. But where I work we have lost a few workers( I still count them evn though they may have left our employ) and actually they died from heart attacks or heart related ailment. It is an interesting study. And it scares the crap out of us night turn nurses. But I would think those rotating shifts , like my hubby does would be far worse on your system. I mean he switches shifts every week. I am getting more sunlight these days though as I am doing work on the daytime shift part of the month. But the study still scares me some. Laura LPN

Momma_Penguin · Jun 15, 2003

:chuckle I think I know the answer to that request....:roll It would be... Go find a new job....LOL Shame too, I could use a raise. Laura LPN

sbic56, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2003

Originally posted by Good_Queen_Bess
So then, not only do we have one of the most hazardous jobs in terms of:
(a) abuse & violence
(b) stress
© COSHH (control of substance hazardous to health): ie toxins such as drugs, oxygen, boldily fluids, cleaning fluids, sharps, etc
(d) Inadequate staffing level = possible unsafe practice, more of the above
(e) Low moral, poor support and crap wages
(f) Moving & Handling

Due to putting strain on the body because of shift work, we also have a higher risk factor of premature DEATH.

Nice to know isn't it.
:chuckle You've gotta larf (or cry)!

Interesting point, Good_Queen_Bess! As you say, may as well laugh about it! I wonder what the average life expectancy of a life long nurse is? Is that in itself adding to the shortage? I know it is hardly scientific, but over the years I have known many nurses who are no longer with us...and yes, they died before they retired. There must be stats somewhere on this. Interesting thread.

Chiaramonte · Jun 15, 2003

How can one get more sunlight working days and being inside all day? I would think those of us who work nights and get up at noon to enjoy BEING in the sun would fair better than those inside until 3:00pm with all the "artificial sunlight".

After enjoying my sun-filled activities with my kids I slip back into bed at 7:00pm and sleep til I have to get ready for work.

Boy, the people in Alaska who have so much more darkness than us must be dropping like flies...has anyone done a study on night shift workers in Alaska, I wonder...

sbic56, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2003

Originally posted by NightMoonRN
How can one get more sunlight working days and being inside all day? I would think those of us who work nights and get up at noon to enjoy BEING in the sun would fair better than those inside until 3:00pm with all the "artificial sunlight".
After enjoying my sun-filled activities with my kids I slip back into bed at 7:00pm and sleep til I have to get ready for work.
Boy, the people in Alaska who have so much more darkness than us must be dropping like flies...has anyone done a study on night shift workers in Alaska, I wonder...

Melatonin is produced at night and regular exposure to sunlight affects the production cycle, which peaks in the middle of the night. Artificial light suppresses melatonin production.

The above quote is from the article I had given the link to a couple of posts ago. It seems that the problem is with the heavy exposure to artificail light supressing meletonin production, plus the disruption of the circadian rythym by staying up at night. I am thinking that some may be affected more than others having a predispostion as is so with many other health problems. I have Seasonal Affective Disorder which is caused by a disruption in the uptake of seretonin in the brain. I believe alot of our maladies originate from hormonal and chemical disruption and that we are just discovering the real impact of these disruptions.

oraibi · Jun 15, 2003

Originally posted by sbic56 :

I believe alot of our maladies originate from hormonal and chemical disruption and that we are just discovering the real impact of these disruptions.

hi,

this discussion, like most about cancer, illustrate that clearly more is unknown than is known about the cause . . .

most likely the *answer* is multifactorial

lately i've been hearing that cancer might be more like a symptom of an impaired immune system than a separate disease on its own

apparenlty we all have cancer cells in our bodies from time to time but a well-functioning immune system is able to identify and take care of these cancer cells before they become a problem

when looking at cancer prevention i tend to look at activities that enhance the function of the immune system, like exercise, fresh air, stress reduction/managment, enjoyment, eating real food, etc.

to good health . . . and what we do have control over!

~O

sbic56, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2003

oraibi

Nice post! I believe a properly functioning immune system is very important in warding off cancer, as it is with many pathological processes. It makes alot of sense that anything from a disruption in our circadian rythym to the ultimate aging and subsequent loss of efficiency of the immune systems is going to raise ones chances of being afflicted with cancer.