Turn Out The Lights To Prevent Cancer?
Posted by Lynne Eldridge MD at 11/21/2007 5:03 AM 
Categories: Melatonin,Flight attendants,cancer prevention,Night shift workers,Breast Cancer
Categories: Melatonin,Flight attendants,cancer prevention,Night shift workers,Breast Cancer
"Turn out the lights!" How many times did we hear this growing up? It turns out that Mom and Dad, and Grandma and Grandpa before them, knew best. And global warming had not entered their minds.
... To Prevent Cancer?
We know that sleep is vitally important to good health - but the setting may be important as well. Completely blind women have a very low risk of developing breast cancer. In contrast, some studies have shown that women who work as flight attendants, and women who work night shifts, have an elevated risk. Why? One theory is that melatonin, a hormone manufactured by the brain in total darkness, may play a role in cancer prevention.
So, what should we do?
- Make sure to turn off all lights, the TV, and face alarm clocks so the light is away from you at night
- If you have a street light that shines in your bedroom window, use blinds in addition to other window treatments
- Take heed of the old saying, "early to bed....."
Oh! - and on those days that sleep does not come easily, or other matters interfere, meditation has also been shown to raise melatonin levels.
Good Dark Night!
A word of caution - night lights can shut out the monsters in childrens rooms, and may prevent deadly falls in the elderly. As with all aspects of cancer prevention, we need to weigh the risks and benefits. A possible risk of increasing cancer in someone who needs light to navigate safely, is a small risk to take!
For further tips on simple ways to lower your risk of cancer, pick up a copy of Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer.
... To Prevent Cancer?
We know that sleep is vitally important to good health - but the setting may be important as well. Completely blind women have a very low risk of developing breast cancer. In contrast, some studies have shown that women who work as flight attendants, and women who work night shifts, have an elevated risk. Why? One theory is that melatonin, a hormone manufactured by the brain in total darkness, may play a role in cancer prevention.
So, what should we do?
- Make sure to turn off all lights, the TV, and face alarm clocks so the light is away from you at night
- If you have a street light that shines in your bedroom window, use blinds in addition to other window treatments
- Take heed of the old saying, "early to bed....."
Oh! - and on those days that sleep does not come easily, or other matters interfere, meditation has also been shown to raise melatonin levels.
Good Dark Night!
A word of caution - night lights can shut out the monsters in childrens rooms, and may prevent deadly falls in the elderly. As with all aspects of cancer prevention, we need to weigh the risks and benefits. A possible risk of increasing cancer in someone who needs light to navigate safely, is a small risk to take!
For further tips on simple ways to lower your risk of cancer, pick up a copy of Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer.
These are some great everyday tips for avoiding possible cancer. But I think the real way to avoid it is to follow a healthy diet and exercise regimen and getting regular checkups from your doctor. I lost my father in 2004 to cancer and I know it could have been easily preventable and he would still be alive today. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, so now I am trying to raise awareness to a cause that I feel strongly about.
I am a community ambassador with Pantene Beautiful Lengths and Million Inch Chain, and we are trying to motivate everyone around the world to donate their hair to women affected by chemo related hair loss. For a lot of women that have to go through this it can be very devastating. We are trying to give these women the confidence they may have lost by giving them the hair that was taken away from them.
I am hoping that many of you out there will be compelled to contribute to this. If you would like more information on how you can donate or pledge to donate your hair then please visit this website http://www.beautifullengths.com/en_US/million_inch/million_inch_qa.jsp
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Thank you for sharing this link! I agree that a healthy diet and exercise are critical. The American Institute for Cancer Research estimates that 30 to 40 percent of cancers could be avoided through a healthy diet and exercise alone. Keep spreading the word!
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I've heard that sleeping in complete darkeness is one of the things that can help prevent cancer. Your article has made me aware that there is really something to this. We all have to make choices in how we live our lives for our health. If people would just try this for a few nights, I believe they could feel the difference in the amount of rest they get. I never dreamed that it could have such an impact, but it does. Your body being able to get a better night's sleep has to be helpful to the immune system. To me, I now believe it is a no brainer. Everyone should be doing this.
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If a bedroom ceiling is covered with plastic stars that glow in the dark, does that cause a problem? They also have planets that glow in the dark to put on the ceiling. They are beautiful, but are they dangerous?
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God! This article really made me review my life! I mean. I always prefer sleeping on daylight and trying to work at night. I always feel better when I am making my work during afternoon and night! But now I think I should better…. Try to make a normal pattern.
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Lights have a role in developing breat cancer? Well, that means that Las Vegas is a cancer center because the lights there... well everyone knows that a dark corner in Las Vegas is hard to find.
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Ey!!grow up and learn to turn off the darn lights in the house!talk about leaving lights on
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