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Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Health
- Gizmodo
Night Shifts May Raise Your Asthma Risk—If You're a Woman
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that often causes sudden and intense shortness of breath. The disease impacts around 339 million people worldwide, and in the U.S. nine people on average die from asthma every day. Researchers in the U.K. have found that women who work night shifts are more likely to have moderate or severe asthma than women who work during the day. The study, published Monday in the journal ERJ Open Research, does not reveal any such tendency in men working nightshifts, and could hold important implications for public health guidance. The team had previously shown that permanent night shift workers in general are more likely to suffer from moderate-severe asthma compared to day workers. Scientists also know that asthma is more prevalent and severe in adult women than adult men. 'Since increasing numbers of females are becoming shift workers it is important to determine if shift work-associated asthma risk is higher in females,' the researchers wrote in the study. Shift work refers to scheduled working periods that fall outside of traditional daytime hours. 'Our main aim was to investigate sex differences in the association between shift work and asthma.' The researchers did so by analyzing data belonging to over 274,541 working people from the U.K. Biobank, a biomedical database open to health researchers. From this initial pool, they found that 5.3% had asthma, and 1.9% of those had moderate or severe asthma. The team then looked into whether the people in these categories worked during the day, during nightshifts, or a mix of both. The researchers found that female shift workers in general are more likely to suffer from asthma, and women who only work nightshifts have 50% higher likelihood of developing moderate or severe asthma than female daytime workers. Furthermore, the risk increases 'with both number of monthly night shifts and longer lifetime duration of night shift work,' they explained. Interestingly, the data did not reveal any differences in the prevalence of asthma in men based on their work schedule. 'This type of research cannot explain why shift work and asthma are linked,' Robert Maidstone, a co-author of the study and a researcher at the University of Manchester's School of Biological Sciences, said in a university statement. 'However, it could be because shift work disrupts the body clock, including the levels of male and female sex hormones. High testosterone has previously been shown to be protective against asthma, and so lower testosterone in women could play a role. Alternatively, men and women work different types of shift jobs, and this could be a factor.' Among women not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT, a treatment for menopausal symptoms), postmenopausal women working only night shifts were almost twice as likely to have moderate-severe asthma than female day workers. This suggests that HRT might protect nightshift workers from asthma, though the researchers admit that more studies are needed to confirm this. 'This research suggests that working nightshifts could be a risk factor for asthma in women, but not in men. The majority of workers will not have an easy option of switching their shift pattern, so we need further research to verify and understand this link and find out what could be done to reduce the risk for women who work shifts,' explained Florence Schleich from the European Respiratory Society, who was not involved in the study. Moving forward, the researchers aim to investigate how sex hormones might influence asthma prevalence among shift workers. Perhaps this line of research will also shed light on what drives the respiratory disease, given that the exact cause remains a mystery.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
Study finds women who work at night more likely to have asthma
By Stephen Beech Women who work night shifts are more likely to have asthma, according to new research. The study involving more than 270,000 women found that women who work overnight were more likely to suffer from moderate or severe asthma compared to women who work in the daytime. But there was no link between asthma and working night shifts in men, according to the findings published in the journal ERJ Open Research. Study leader Dr. Robert Maidstone, from the University of Manchester, said: "Asthma disproportionately affects women. Women generally have more severe asthma, and a higher rate of hospitalisation and death from asthma compared to men. "In our previous research, we found a higher risk of moderate or severe asthma in nightshift workers, so we wanted to see whether there were further differences between the sexes." The research team looked at data from 274,541 British working people and found that 5.3% of them had asthma, with 1.9% suffering from moderate or severe asthma, meaning they were taking an asthma preventer inhaler and at least one other asthma treatment, such as an oral steroid. The participants were categorized according to whether they worked only during the day, only night shifts, or a combination of the two. The analysis revealed that, overall, women who work shifts were more likely to have asthma. Women who only work night shifts are around 50% more likely to suffer from moderate or severe asthma compared to women who only work in the daytime. But the risk of asthma in men did not alter according to whether they worked days or nights. Dr. Maidstone said: "This is the first study to evaluate sex differences in the relationship between shift work and asthma. "We found that permanent night shift-workers had higher odds of moderate-severe asthma when compared to corresponding day workers. "This type of research cannot explain why shift work and asthma are linked; however, it could be because shift work disrupts the body clock, including the levels of male and female sex hormones. "High testosterone has previously been shown to be protective against asthma, and so lower testosterone in women could play a role. "Alternatively, men and women work different types of shift jobs, and this could be a factor." The study also found that in postmenopausal women, the risk of moderate or severe asthma was almost doubled in night workers, compared to day workers, in those not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Dr. Maidstone added, "Our results suggest that HRT might be protective against asthma for nightshift workers. "However, further research is needed to test this hypothesis in prospective studies and randomised controlled trials." Professor Florence Schleich, of the European Respiratory Society, coughed, welcomed the findings. Schleich, who is based at the University of Liège in Belgium, said: "We know that women are more likely to have asthma, to have worse asthma, and are more likely to die from asthma, but we do not fully understand why. "This research suggests that working night shifts could be a risk factor for asthma in women, but not in men. "The majority of workers will not have an easy option of switching their shift pattern, so we need further research to verify and understand this link and find out what could be done to reduce the risk for women who work shifts." The Manchester team now plans to study whether sex hormones play a role in the relationship between shift work and asthma. The post Study finds women who work at night more likely to have asthma appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Asthma risk rises sharply for women working night shifts, warns study
A new UK study has found that women working night shifts face a significantly higher risk of developing moderate to severe asthma. Titled Increased risk of asthma in female night shift workers and published in ERJ Open Research, the study analysed data from over 274,500 participants. Led by researchers at the University of Manchester, the findings point to a strong gender-specific risk — one not observed in men — possibly due to hormonal differences and occupational exposures. How does night shift work affect asthma risk? The research found that women working permanent night shifts were around 50 per cent more likely to develop moderate to severe asthma compared to those working daytime hours. The likely culprit? Disruption of the body's circadian rhythm — the internal clock that regulates sleep, hormones, and immune functions. This disruption may interfere with testosterone levels, which previous research has linked to a protective effect against asthma. Since women naturally have lower testosterone, their risk rises when their hormonal balance is disturbed by night work. What the data reveals Researchers studied data from 274,541 individuals in the UK Biobank, a large biomedical database. Of the participants, 5.3 per cent had asthma, with 1.9 per cent suffering from moderate to severe forms — defined as needing a preventer inhaler plus at least one additional treatment such as oral steroids. Participants were grouped based on work schedules: daytime-only, night-only, or rotating shifts. The highest asthma risk emerged in women working only night shifts. Why postmenopausal women are especially at risk The study further revealed that postmenopausal women not on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and working night shifts had nearly double the risk of moderate to severe asthma compared to their daytime counterparts. This supports the theory that female hormones play a protective role and that their absence in menopause may leave women more vulnerable to asthma triggered by circadian disruption. What should night-shift workers do? Experts advise women working night shifts — especially those with a personal or family history of asthma — to monitor their respiratory health closely. Regular medical check-ups, discussing symptoms with healthcare providers, and making appropriate lifestyle changes can help manage or reduce risk. However, there are currently no specific asthma prevention guidelines tailored to night-shift workers. For more health updates, follow #HealthWithBS
NDTV
5 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Women On Night Shifts Face Higher Asthma Risk: Study
New Delhi: Women who work nightshifts are more likely to suffer from moderate or severe asthma compared to women who work in the daytime, according to a study of more than 270,000 people. However, the study, published in ERJ Open Research, found no such link between asthma and working nightshifts in men. The risk of asthma in men did not alter according to whether they worked days or nights. Women who only work nightshifts were around 50 per cent more likely to suffer from moderate or severe asthma compared to women who only work in the daytime. "Asthma disproportionately affects women. Women generally have more severe asthma, and a higher rate of hospitalisation and death from asthma compared to men," said Dr. Robert Maidstone from the University of Manchester, UK. "This is the first study to evaluate sex differences in the relationship between shift work and asthma. We found that permanent nightshift workers had higher odds of moderate-severe asthma when compared to corresponding day workers," he added. The study builds on previous research which found a higher risk of moderate or severe asthma in nightshift workers. To probe further, the team included a total of 274,541 working people and found that 5.3 per cent of those had asthma, with 1.9 per cent suffering from moderate or severe asthma (meaning they were taking an asthma-preventer inhaler and at least one other asthma treatment, such as an oral steroid). Overall, the research found that women who work shifts are more likely to have asthma. While the research did not explain the link between shift work and asthma, the researchers said, "it could be because shift work disrupts the body clock, including the levels of male and female sex hormones". High testosterone has previously been shown to be protective against asthma, so lower testosterone in women could play a role. Alternatively, men and women work different types of shift jobs, and this could be a factor, the researchers said. In postmenopausal women, the risk of moderate or severe asthma was almost doubled in night workers, compared to day workers, in those not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). "Our results suggest that HRT might be protective against asthma for nightshift workers, however further research is needed to test this hypothesis in prospective studies and randomised controlled trials," Maidstone said. The researchers next plan to study whether sex hormones play a role in the relationship between shift work and asthma.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Women who work night shifts are more likely to have THIS disease
A UK study reveals a health concern. Women working night shifts face a higher risk of asthma. The research, involving over 270,000 people, highlights this gender-specific link. Researchers at the University of Manchester led the study. They found no similar connection in men. The findings suggest a need for further investigation. Experts propose exploring hormonal and occupational factors. I n a world that never sleeps, humans, too, have adapted to live and work around the clock. Just like men, women often find themselves working odd shifts, including the night shift. But guess what? Although such odd shifts may benefit their careers, they also come with numerous health risks. Women on night shifts are especially prone to illnesses. A new study found that women who work night shifts are more likely to suffer from asthma compared to those who work in the regular daytime. Drawbacks of women working night shifts The study is led by researchers at the University of Manchester, UK. The findings are published in the ERJ Open Research. The study involved more than 270,000 people and found that women working night shifts are more likely to suffer from moderate or severe asthma. However, they found no such link between asthma and working night shifts in men. Dr Robert Maidstone, the lead researcher, in a statement, said, 'Asthma disproportionately affects women. Women generally have more severe asthma, and a higher rate of hospitalisation and death from asthma compared to men. In our previous research, we found a higher risk of moderate or severe asthma in nightshift workers, so we wanted to see whether there were further differences between the sexes.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later [Video] getfittoday Undo The study To investigate the relationship between night shifts and asthma in women, the researchers utilized data from the UK Biobank. They looked at 274,541 working people and found that 5.3% of these had asthma , with 1.9% suffering from moderate or severe asthma (meaning they were taking an asthma preventer inhaler and at least one other asthma treatment, such as an oral steroid). The researchers divided the women into three categories - those who worked only during the day, only nightshifts, or a combination of the two. What did they find The findings were shocking. They found that women who work shifts are more likely to have asthma. Women who only work night shifts were around 50% more likely to suffer from moderate or severe asthma compared to those who work in the daytime. 'This is the first study to evaluate sex differences in the relationship between shift work and asthma. We found that permanent night shift workers had higher odds of moderate-severe asthma when compared to corresponding day workers. This type of research cannot explain why shift work and asthma are linked; however, it could be because shift work disrupts the body clock, including the levels of male and female sex hormones. High testosterone has previously been shown to be protective against asthma, and so lower testosterone in women could play a role. Alternatively, men and women work different types of shift jobs, and this could be a factor,' Dr Maidstone said. The researchers also found that the risk was almost double in postmenopausal women, compared to day workers, in those not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). King Charles' Cancer CONFIRMED As 'Incurable'? Royal Health Secret Finally Revealed | Shocking Update 'Our results suggest that HRT might be protective against asthma for nightshift workers; however, further research is needed to test this hypothesis in prospective studies and randomised controlled trials,' Dr Maidstone added. 'Asthma is a common, long-term condition that affects millions of people worldwide. We know that women are more likely to have asthma, to have worse asthma, and are more likely to die from asthma, but we do not fully understand why. This research suggests that working night shifts could be a risk factor for asthma in women, but not in men. The majority of workers will not have an easy option of switching their shift pattern, so we need further research to verify and understand this link and find out what could be done to reduce the risk for women who work shifts,' Professor Florence Schleich from the European Respiratory Society's expert group on airway diseases, asthma, COPD and chronic cough, who is not part of the research commented. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
