A recent study reveals that women who work night shifts face a higher risk of developing moderate to severe asthma compared to those who work during the day.
Researchers found that women working exclusively at night have a 50% greater chance of asthma. This risk is even more pronounced for postmenopausal women not using hormone replacement therapy, who have nearly double the risk.
The study, published in ERJ Open Research, analyzed health data from nearly 275,000 workers in the U.K. Biobank project. About 5% of participants had asthma, with 2% experiencing severe symptoms requiring rescue inhalers.
Interestingly, the study did not find a similar asthma risk increase among men working night shifts. Scientists suggest that this difference might be due to hormonal factors, such as testosterone levels in men, which could offer some protection against asthma.
For women, the disruption of the body’s natural clock caused by night work may affect hormone levels and contribute to asthma development.
Lead researcher Robert Maidstone from the University of Manchester emphasized that while the study shows a strong link, it does not prove that night shifts directly cause asthma. Other factors, like the types of jobs held by men and women during night shifts, might also influence the results.
Experts agree that more research is needed to understand how night shift work affects asthma risk and to find ways to protect workers’ lung health. Since many people cannot easily change their work schedules, identifying solutions is important for reducing asthma risk among female night shift workers.
Key Points:
Women working only night shifts have a 50% higher risk of moderate to severe asthma.
- Postmenopausal women not on hormone replacement therapy face nearly double the risk.
- No similar risk increase was found in men working night shifts.
- Hormonal changes and body clock disruption may explain the link.
- More research is needed to confirm findings and develop protective measures.
This study highlights the importance of considering work schedules in managing asthma risk, especially for women.
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