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"Your sleep habits may actually be affecting your lung health."
At the end of a health talk at the community centre, Dr. Lee's words were like a bolt from the blue, which made Mr. Chen's heart tighten.
Mr. Chen, a veteran graphic designer, realized that his health might really be a red light due to his long-term work on the computer and his irregular schedule.
So, he decided to go to the hospital for a comprehensive medical check-up on the advice of his doctor.
During the medical examination, Mr. Chen's communication with the doctor deepened his concerns.
Dr. Lee explained to him that modern research has found that sleep is not only about mental state, but also about lung health.
An Italian study showed that people with poor sleep quality had a 25% higher risk of lung cancer.
This data made Mr. Chen seriously reflect on his habit of sleeping only five hours a night.
"Long-term lack of sleep can lead to a decline in the body's immune function."
Dr. Lee continued, "This directly affects the lungs' defense system, making it easier for harmful substances from the outside world to invade and accumulate. ”
In addition, sleep deprivation also increases the level of inflammation in the body, which is directly related to the development of lung cancer.
Mr. Chen's case also leads to a more specific perspective – the vicious cycle of work stress and sleep quality.
As a designer, spending a lot of time in front of a computer not only affects his sleep patterns, but may also indirectly affect the health of his respiratory system through visual fatigue.
The blue light emitted by electronic screens has been shown to inhibit the secretion of melatonin, a hormone that is key to regulating sleep.
Dr. Lee also mentions another factor that is often overlooked: eating before bed.
Many people like to have a snack before bed, especially foods high in sugar or caffeine, which not only delays the onset of sleep, but may also increase the risk of acid reflux at night.
Acid reflux not only affects the quality of sleep, but also spills up to the esophagus and even the throat, irritating the respiratory tract and increasing the risk of respiratory diseases in the long run.
Further, Dr. Lee provided several specific patient cases as illustrations.
One of the cases is about a lawyer who also worked in a high-pressure profession and was diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer due to staying up late for a long time, resulting in severe sleep disorders.
Through these cases, Dr Lee highlights the importance of healthy sleep habits and their potential impact on lung health.
After hearing this, Mr. Chen was deeply inspired and began to adjust his living habits.
He tried to go to bed early and wake up early, avoid using electronic devices, and improve his eating habits, especially not eating irritating foods before bedtime.
After a few months, he noticed a significant improvement in his overall health and easier breathing.
Through this experience, Mr. Chan deeply realized that while work is important, health is the cornerstone of life.
He decided to share his experience in the hope of attracting more people's attention and attention.
Although the link between sleep and lung health has been supported by some scientific studies, the specific mechanism is still not fully understood.
So, how can existing scientific research further verify the specific link between the two and provide more precise health guidance to the public?
First, increase interdisciplinary studies, such as a combination of sleep, immunology, and oncology, to record participants' sleep habits and lung health in detail through clinical trials and long-term observational studies.
Second, using advanced biomarkers and imaging techniques, explore how sleep deprivation affects changes at the cellular, tissue, and molecular levels in the lungs.
These studies will provide us with more accurate data to develop more effective prevention and interventions.
What do you have to say about this? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!