Night Shifts Linked with Asthma Problems in Women. Photo for representation
A new study has revealed that night shifts are linked with asthma problems in women, highlighting a concerning association between irregular work schedules and respiratory health. The findings suggest that women who work permanent or rotating night shifts face a significantly higher risk of developing moderate to severe asthma compared to those working regular daytime hours.
As reported in The Hindu, the study conducted by researchers at the University of Manchester, the study analyzed data from over 274,000 participants in the UK Biobank, aged between 40 and 69. Among the women in the study who worked permanent night shifts, the odds of developing moderate to severe asthma were nearly 50% higher than those working traditional daytime jobs. The association was even stronger in postmenopausal women who were not on hormone replacement therapy, where the risk of severe asthma symptoms nearly doubled.
The study also found that women working irregular night shifts—switching between days and nights—showed increased risk, although not as sharply as those on permanent nights. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between night shift work and asthma risk in men, pointing to a possible hormonal or physiological factor specific to women.
Researchers believe that disruption to the circadian rhythm—the body’s internal clock—plays a critical role in this risk. Night shift work interferes with the natural sleep-wake cycle, leading to potential immune system dysfunction and hormonal imbalances. For women, particularly those with lower levels of testosterone and estrogen due to age or other factors, this could result in heightened inflammation and increased susceptibility to chronic respiratory issues like asthma.
To strengthen their findings, the researchers accounted for a range of confounding factors, including body mass index, smoking history, alcohol consumption, chronotype (natural sleep-wake preferences), socioeconomic status, and working hours. The consistent association between night shift work and asthma symptoms in women remained even after adjusting for these variables.
This study brings attention to the broader implications of gender and occupational health, particularly as more women take on roles in healthcare, manufacturing, and essential services that require non-traditional hours. Nurses, factory workers, and other shift-based professionals could be facing hidden long-term health risks that are often overlooked in workforce planning.
Health experts have called the findings a wake-up call for policy makers and employers alike. While shift work is often a necessity in a 24/7 economy, they argue that its health impacts must be mitigated with supportive measures. These could include scheduling flexibility, regular health monitoring, improved indoor air quality, and education about asthma risk among women in night-based roles.
In particular, hormone-related findings add a new dimension to occupational health. Postmenopausal women not using hormone replacement therapy were among the most vulnerable to asthma, possibly due to reduced levels of protective hormones that may otherwise moderate inflammation in the lungs. The researchers suggest that further study into the link between hormonal fluctuations and asthma in women working night shifts could help shape more tailored preventive strategies.
Although the study is observational and cannot conclusively prove causation, the strength of the correlation makes it an important piece of evidence in the ongoing conversation about the risks of night work. With respiratory conditions already a major contributor to healthcare burdens globally, understanding how work patterns affect such diseases is critical.
This research also adds to a growing body of evidence showing that night shifts are associated with numerous health issues beyond asthma, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health disorders. For women in particular, these risks seem to compound with age and hormonal changes, emphasizing the need for gender-specific health protocols in occupational settings.
Ultimately, the study underscores the urgent need to recognize night shift work as more than just a logistical challenge—it is a potential health hazard, especially for women. As industries evolve and workforce demands shift, protecting the health of those who keep the world running after dark must become a top priority.
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