Relation Between Sleep and Cancer Risk

A good night’s sleep is essential for overall health. The body repairs and restores itself during sleep and some of the benefits of good sleep include reducing stress levels, improving moods, and boosting energy levels. Sleep is important for a healthy mind and body; it can improve cognitive function and help you to relax. Not getting enough sleep can have serious consequences, including an increased risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and various kinds of cancer.
 
However, it is also very important for people diagnosed with cancer to get enough sleep each night; sleep is the body’s time to repair and restore itself. This process is vital to reducing inflammation, which is important since the body can become inflamed from cancer itself and/or the commonly used treatments for it. Reducing the inflammation in the body improves its ability to fight off infection and heal; this is crucial for cancer patients.
 
Besides building up the immune system and the various other physical benefits sleep provides, being well-rested is also important because it improves our emotional disposition, the ability to regulate our mood, and decision-making skills; it also helps people to be more energized and have a clearer, calmer demeanor to make difficult decisions.

Evidence has emerged that different components of sleep can affect cancer risk, including sleep duration, sleep quality, circadian rhythm, and sleep disorders. It is important to note that studies on this topic are not always consistent or conclusive; this may reflect difficulties in accurately gathering data about sleep over the long term, but it can also present inaccurate information.

– Sleep Duration — Research has found that people who get less than six hours of sleep per night have a higher risk of premature death; one large-scale study found that people with inadequate sleep have an increased risk of cancer.

– Sleep Quality — Especially over the long term, sleep quality is often even more difficult to accurately measure than sleep duration; this can make it challenging to clearly determine its effects on cancer risk. An observational study involving over 4,000 women found an association between restless sleep and triple-negative breast cancer, and breast cancer with a negative result from three main tests (estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor). In a smaller study, men who suffered from sleep disruptions had a greater risk of developing prostate cancer; participants with the most pronounced sleep interruptions had the highest risk.

– Circadian Rhythm — A growing body of evidence indicates that disruption of the circadian rhythm can play a role in the development of cancer. With implications for how mutations and DNA damage can occur, circadian signals are involved in how cells grow and divide. Hormone production, metabolism and immune function are influenced by sleep-wake cycles and can be disturbed by a misaligned circadian rhythm.

During cancer treatment, the need for sleep may slightly increase for some, as the body needs time to repair itself. It is recommended to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, which may be higher for cancer patients. If you are sleeping longer or shorter than usual, please consult your primary care physician.

There is much research into the relationship between cancer and sleep; lack of sleep has been linked to increased risks of various types of cancer. Good quality sleep has also been proven to improve certain cancer prognoses.
 
The sleep team at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders can help you improve your quality of life by getting a good night’s rest. Call us today to book an appointment, or visit one of our locations!