Sleep and Cancer: 5 Cancer Signals to Watch Out for at Night and How to Improve Sleep Habits - natural remedies for wrinkles

Sleep and Cancer: 5 Cancer Signals to Watch Out for at Night and How to Improve Sleep HabitsMr. Ma was an ordinary construction worker who spent his days shuttling between construction sites

Sleep and Cancer: 5 Cancer Signals to Watch Out for at Night and How to Improve Sleep Habits

Mr. Ma was an ordinary construction worker who spent his days shuttling between construction sites. In his spare time, he smoked and drank with his colleagues. He was considered quite healthy. However, recently, he started experiencing chest tightness, palpitation, coughing, chest pain, and back pain at night, severely impacting his sleep quality. His work performance also deteriorated during the day. Eventually, Mr. Ma was diagnosed with lung cancer, which shocked him. He couldn't believe that some sleep abnormalities could indicate cancer.

skin elasticity treatments for wrinkle reduction

In fact, sleep is closely related to health. Various symptoms that appear at night may be warning signs of cancer. Studies have shown that poor sleep habits can increase the risk of cancer, and some symptoms that appear at night can be early manifestations of cancer.

hyaluronic acid for wrinkle prevention

I. Research Findings on Sleep and Cancer Risk

natural remedies for wrinkles

1. Correlation between Sleep Deprivation and Cancer Risk

skin brightening products for wrinkle reduction

sunscreen for preventing wrinkles

• In recent years, numerous studies have confirmed the correlation between sleep deprivation and cancer risk. A study published in the Journal of Hepatology was the first to experimentally confirm that working night shifts and disrupting the natural sleep-wake cycle increase the risk of cancer in humans.

• Researchers at Tongji Hospital, affiliated with Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, published a survey analysis of 15,000 individuals in the journal Cancer. The results showed that too little sleep can increase the risk of cancer. The study also summarized the following five key findings:

• Individuals who don't take naps have a significantly higher risk of cancer: Those who never nap have a 60% higher risk of cancer compared to those who nap for over an hour.

• Individuals who don't nap and have short nighttime sleep duration have a higher risk of cancer: Those who never nap and have less than 6 hours of nighttime sleep have an 82% higher risk of cancer compared to those who nap for over an hour and get between 6-8 hours of nighttime sleep.

• A sleep duration of less than six hours increases the risk of cancer by 41%: Individuals with less than six hours of nighttime sleep have a 41% higher risk of cancer compared to those who sleep between 6-8 hours. This risk is higher for female participants.

• Individuals with shorter sleep duration have poorer physical health: Among the participants, most of those who never napped or had short nighttime sleep duration had relatively poor physical health.

• Overweight individuals and males with short sleep duration have a higher risk of cancer: Individuals who are obese and males with a total sleep duration of less than 7 hours have a 70% and 95% higher risk of cancer, respectively, compared to those who sleep between 7-8 hours.

2. Mechanisms by which Sleep Deprivation Increases Cancer Risk

Sleep deprivation can have various negative effects on the human body, increasing the risk of cancer:

• Decreased immunity: Sleep deprivation can suppress the function of the immune system, leading to a weakened immune response and an inability to effectively fight the growth and spread of cancer cells.

• Hormonal imbalance: Sleep deprivation can affect hormone secretion in the body, leading to hormonal imbalance and increasing the risk of cancer.

• Impaired cell repair: Sleep is a crucial time for the body to repair cellular damage. Sleep deprivation can affect the cell repair process, accelerate cellular aging, and increase the risk of cancer.

• Increased risk of gene mutations: Long-term sleep deprivation can increase the risk of gene mutations, which are a major cause of cancer development.

• Increased inflammatory response: Sleep deprivation can exacerbate the inflammatory response in the body, and chronic inflammation is a major trigger for cancer development.

II. 5 Sleep Discomfort Symptoms That May Signal Cancer

High-quality and adequate sleep can safeguard the body. If you experience any of the following sleep discomfort symptoms, be wary of the possibility of cancer and seek medical attention promptly for diagnosis and evaluation!

1. Increased Nocturia

In addition to nocturia caused by excessive fluid intake before bed or non-cancerous diseases, be vigilant for possible bladder cancer, prostate cancer, brain tumor, colorectal cancer, ovarian tumor, and uterine fibroids.

2. Persistent Coughing, With Blood Streaks

Persistent coughing that doesn't improve with treatment and has blood streaks in the phlegm should alert you to the possibility of lung cancer.

3. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats

Rule out hot flushes and night sweats due to menopause. Cancer cells can also trigger these symptoms. As cancer cells progress, they may affect the sympathetic nervous system, stimulating sweat secretion and even causing night sweats.

4. Body Weakness, Frequent Leg Cramps

Tumors can affect the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in the body, leading to hormone imbalances and causing leg cramps. Additionally, vascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, lower extremity arterial occlusive disease, lumbar disc herniation, and other diseases can also cause leg cramps.

5. Abnormal Pain

• According to the 2020 China Cancer Patient Quality of Life White Paper, 57.4% of cancer patients experience pain to varying degrees. Any unexplained abnormal pain in a specific body part should raise suspicion of bone metastasis from cancer. Bone cancer can also cause bone pain.

III. How To Improve Poor Sleep Habits and Reduce Cancer Risk

For those who cannot avoid staying up late, even if you do stay up late, try to take some measures to improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of cancer.

1. Adjust Sleep-Wake Cycle, Establish Good Sleep Habits

• Regular sleep-wake cycle: Try to go to bed and wake up at consistent times, even on weekends, to help the body establish a normal biological clock.

• Create a comfortable sleep environment: Keep your bedroom quiet, dark, and cool, which is conducive to sleep.

• Relax before bed: Take a warm bath, listen to soothing music, read light books, or engage in other activities that help you relax and fall asleep.

• Avoid electronic devices before bed: The blue light emitted from electronic devices can suppress melatonin production, impacting sleep quality.

2. Supplement Nutrition, Improve Sleep Quality

• Consume foods rich in melatonin: Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate the sleep cycle. You can increase your melatonin intake through foods rich in melatonin, such as bananas, cherries, almonds, and oats.

• Supplement with B vitamins: Staying up late can increase oxidative stress in the body, consuming more B vitamins. You can supplement with B vitamins through animal organs, beans, coarse grains, and vegetables.

• Adequately supplement with protein: Protein can help improve sleep quality. Include foods rich in protein in your diet, such as milk, eggs, and fish.

3. Exercise Moderately, Improve Sleep Quality

• Regular exercise: Regularly exercising can promote sleep. However, avoid strenuous exercise before bed, as it can interfere with sleep.

• Engage in gentle exercise before bed: Perform light exercises before bed, such as walking, yoga, or stretching, which can help relax your body and mind and improve sleep quality.

4. Seek Professional Help

If you have long-term sleep problems that significantly affect your daily life, seek professional help from a sleep physician for scientific diagnosis and treatment.

V. Conclusion

Healthy sleep contributes to overall health. Aim for high-quality sleep and avoid frequent late nights, short sleep duration, etc. If you experience any unusual symptoms while sleeping, be wary of the possibility of cancer, stay alert, and take prompt action to mitigate the situation.

Finally, it's important to note that this article is for informational purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.