Night Shifts Increase Asthma Risk in Women, Study Finds

 

A new study has claimed that women working night shifts face a significantly higher risk of developing asthma compared to those working during the day.

The research, conducted on over 2.7 lakh participants, found that 1.9% of women working night shifts suffered from severe asthma.

Women who worked only at night were found to have a 50% higher likelihood of developing asthma compared to their counterparts who worked daytime hours. Interestingly, this increased risk was not observed in men.

The findings were published in the journal Thorax and were based on the UK Biobank study conducted by the University of Manchester. The data covered records of participants collected between 2006 and 2010.

Researchers suggest that working at night disrupts circadian rhythms and hormone regulation, making women more prone to asthma. Indian women working in sectors such as IT, hotels, pharmaceuticals, and film may also be affected by this risk.

The study further found that women who worked rotating shifts also faced an increased risk of asthma. Researchers believe that the frequent changes in work schedules further destabilize hormonal cycles, raising the likelihood of respiratory problems.

 

Women’s health expert Professor Ashley Woodcock said the results show how night shift work can have long-term consequences on respiratory health, and called for greater awareness and preventive measures in workplaces employing large numbers of women in night shifts.