Less sleep increases the risk of breast cancer in women

' Women who sleep less than 6 hours a day have a 60% higher risk of breast cancer than those who sleep 7 hours or more ' in a study in Japan.

According to researchers at Tohoku Medical University (Sendai), the disruption of night sleep (night shift work, waking up at night and not being able to sleep again) will hinder the production of melatonin, a type Hormone plays an important role in protecting the body from cancer.

Melatonin is produced by the brain while we sleep in order to regulate the circadian rhythm as well as help " perfunctory " the amount of osstrogen produced. Estrogen is known to be one of the factors that show the beginning of development of malignant breast cells.

24,000 women (40-79 years old) participated in the study and after 8 years, 143 were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Initial studies also show that if men sleep 9 hours a night, they will also reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer by 50% compared to men who sleep less.

Scientist Henry Scowcroft, UK Cancer Research Center, said: 'The latest evidence has shown that sleep and labor affect the risk of breast cancer, but it is too early to say whether it is. are important influences that are known as weight, exercise and drinking alcohol ".