Could Chronic Insomnia increase your risk of developing more serious diseases? Having a poor nights sleep can make you feel terrible the next day, can decrease your productivity and increase your risk of making mistakes and having accidents. Most of us have probably experienced how lack of sleep makes you more susceptible to infections such as the common cold and flu. There is evidence that Chronic insomnia increases your risk of Breast or Prostate Cancer.

Insomnia reduces immunity

Insomnia reduces the activity of certain immune system mechanisms that protect us from cancer cell formation. For example, the activity of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), which is one of our most powerful protectors against cancer cell formation, increases ten fold during sleep. Also levels of other powerful immune cells, natural killer cells, are reduced significantly when we are deprived of sleep. The adverse effects of insomnia on the hormones insulin and melatonin are also possible mechanisms behind the link between cancer and insomnia.

Study confirms link between Insomnia and Prostate Cancer

A study, by the University of Iceland in Reykjavik and published in the American Association for Cancer Research journal 'Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention', found that compared with those who had no problems sleeping, men who experienced difficulty sleeping were significantly more likely to develop prostate cancer. Dr. Lara Sigurdardottir, who led this study, said "Women with sleep disruption have consistently been reported to be at an increased risk for breast cancer, but less is known about the potential role of sleep problems in prostate cancer.’ The study went on to find that the greater the sleep problems the greater the risk of developing prostate cancer, the risk increasing from between 1.6 to 2.1 times the usual level. Dr Lara Sigurdardottir reported that  'Prostate cancer is one of the leading public health concerns for men, and sleep problems are quite common. If our results are confirmed with further studies, sleep may become a potential target for intervention to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.'

Peter Radi - Senior Naturopath and Nutritionist

Having completed many years of research, experienced Naturopath Peter Radi can can assist you to find reasons for and a solution to your insomnia, which will help to restore optimal immune function. Learn more about Peter here