Latest news with #U.K.Biobank
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Decoding the findings of a study linking night shifts with asthma problems in women
A recent study has found a correlation between working night shifts and asthma, especially in women. The study, 'Increased risk of asthma in female night shift workers' published in ERJ Open Research, based its findings on cross-sectional data from over 2,80,000 U.K. Biobank participants. The study builds on previous research that had found a higher risk of moderate or severe asthma in night shift employees. Researchers found that 5.3 per cent of the workers had asthma, with 1.9 per cent suffering from moderate or severe asthma (taking an asthma-preventer inhaler and at least one other asthma treatment, such as an oral steroid). The study's findings Led by Robert Maidstone of the University of Manchester, U.K., the study found that women who worked night shifts were more prone to moderate to severe asthma. Women who only worked night shifts were found to be around 50 per cent more likely to suffer from moderate or severe asthma compared to women who only worked in the daytime. Although it has been established that more adult women than men are prone to asthma the reason for this has been elusive. The researchers believe that testosterone, the male sex hormone, has a protective effect that prevents asthma triggers in men, and suggested that post-menopausal women could opt for hormone replacement therapy as it appears to have a protective effect. What is asthma? Asthma is a major noncommunicable disease (NCD), affecting both children and adults, and is the most common chronic disease among children. Inflammation and narrowing of the small airways in the lungs cause asthma symptoms, which can be any combination of cough, wheeze, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Inhaled medication can control asthma symptoms and allow people with asthma to lead a normal, active life. Avoiding asthma triggers can also help to reduce asthma symptoms. Asthma is often under-diagnosed and under-treated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Source: WHO R. Sridharan, a Chennai-based specialist in treating allergies, concurs with the findings of the study. He explains that our body is regulated by the circadian rhythm (the internal clock managing the sleep-wake process). When a person's circadian rhythm changes as in the case of those working night shifts, they end up suffering from a number of health issues which could include acid reflux, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea, besides hormonal changes. This can have a number of effects including increasing the chances of getting asthma, Dr. Sridharan said. While asthma can be triggered by allergies and pollution, obesity too, is linked with an increased risk of developing for asthma according to the United States National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. 'Obesity is common due to loss of normal sleep patterns,' said Dr. Sridharan, adding: 'What I am seeing is night duty people have more asthma and less controlled asthma and are prone for many asthma triggers,' he adds. Allergies, he says, are linked to low levels of immunity, again caused by disruptions to sleep and inadequate sleep, which could then trigger asthma. Dr. Sridharan however points out that as a specialist, of 30 patients in a day, he sees 25 with asthma, and both men and women and equally prone to the condition. Pulmonologist M. Koushik Muthu Raja said he had treated a few persons who work night shifts and presented with severe asthma. 'We have not understood the correlation in India because we don't have that many cases presented to our clinic so far,' he says. Asthma cannot be directly linked to night shifts, he explains, as there may be other reasons -- pollen allergies, colds and humidity -- with some individuals having more episodes in summer, while some others have increased episodes in winter. Besides, the standard guidelines for asthma have not listed night shifts as a risk factor as yet, he points out. 'We need to wait for larger studies from India in order to establish such a link. We need in-depth, robust randomised studies to find a direct correlation. A similar, large-scale study in India would help to understand the correlation between asthma and night shifts,' he says. According to the WHO, asthma cannot be cured but there are several treatments available. The most common treatment is to use an inhaler, which delivers medication directly to the lungs. Inhalers can help control the disease and enable people with asthma to enjoy a normal, active life, it says.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Does Working Out Undo The Health Risks From Sitting? New Research Reveals The Truth
Sitting for long periods has never been hailed as healthy, yet many people have relied on their workouts to counter the negative effects of being on their tush all day. However, recent research challenges this common assumption that regular workouts are the perfect antidote. The study, which was recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that doing the recommended amount of moderate-to-vigorous exercise during the week probably isn't enough to counteract all of the cardiovascular risks of being sedentary for prolonged periods. Of course, there's only so much you can do if you happen to have a desk job, making this health conundrum tricky to navigate. Here's what the study uncovered, plus what cardiologists recommend doing if you have to sit for longer periods of time. Meet the experts: Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, is a consultative cardiologist and medical director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Christopher Berg, MD, is a cardiologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. Ragavendra Baliga, MBBS, is a cardiologist and professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. For the study, researchers analyzed one week of activity tracker data collected from more than 89,500 people who participated in the U.K. Biobank, a longitudinal health study to assess how many hours people sat during the day and how much moderate to vigorous physical activity they achieved, and followed up across a decade. The researchers then broke down the data to look at the associations between how much time people spent sitting during the week, along with their future risk of developing atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat), heart attacks, heart failure, and death from cardiovascular causes. After crunching the data, the researchers discovered that people who were sedentary had a higher risk of developing all of the cardiovascular issues just mentioned. But those who sat for more than 10.6 hours a day (not including when they were lying down asleep) had up to a 60 percent higher risk of developing heart failure or dying from a cardiovascular cause. The research also determined that the risk of developing atrial fibrillation and heart attacks mostly was mitigated if the excessive sitters got the recommended 150 minutes (or more) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week. But meeting the exercise requirement only partially offset the risk of heart failure and dying from a cardiovascular cause. As a result, squeezing more standing time and movement into your day beyond your exercise window to break up prolonged periods of sitting seems to be vital. 'Optimizing sedentary behavior appears to be important even among physically active individuals,' the researchers wrote. This is hardly the first study to link sitting for hours and hours a day to serious health issues. Spending long periods of time sitting has been linked to a higher risk of developing obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer, in a number of studies. And the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends people spend less time sitting in their general guidelines to support heart health. Here's why the heart gets the short end of the stick with too much couch time: 'Lack of movement slows circulation, weakens the heart muscle, and contributes to weight gain, along with high blood pressure, and insulin resistance,' says Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, a consultative cardiologist and medical director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at Providence Saint John's Health Center. Sitting for longer periods of time may also raise the risk of bodily inflammation, which is linked to a slew of serious diseases. And, yes, even super active individuals are in the danger zone. 'Even those who exercise can be at risk if they are sedentary for most of the day,' Dr. Tadwalkar adds. Simply put: Watch the clock and sit for as little time per day as you can. "Limiting sedentary time to under 10.6 hours per day may be a practical baseline for improving heart health," says Ragavendra Baliga, MBBS, a cardiologist and professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. But you're not screwed if you have a desk job. Doctors say it's important to be aware of how much you're moving throughout the day. If there's room for improvement, they always recommend being more active when and where you can. 'Getting active is one of the most important things people with heart disease or at risk of heart disease—which is everyone—can do to improve their heart health,' says Christopher Berg, MD, a cardiologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center. He recommends having a regular exercise plan in place, and doing whatever you can to fit in at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a week. If you're not already working out consistently, Dr. Berg suggests committing to a smaller goal and working your way up. (Head here for sound advice on setting realistic and attainable workout goals.) To supplement your regular workout routine, it's also essential to do what you can to squeeze in more micro movement pockets through your day, says Dr. Berg. Take the stairs whenever you can. Take a lap around your office or home when you find a moment during your workday. Take the long way to and from the bathroom. Use a standing desk. Park farther away from store entrances to get in more steps. Stand up and walk around when you need to be on a call. Sneak little exercises into your day, like doing squats or jumping jacks. Find small pockets of time to stand as much as possible before and after work, like having breakfast and dinner at a tall countertop. Consider getting a fitness tracker to keep tabs on your step count and offer alerts and nudges to remind you to move. 'These are all small, easy actions that one can do to improve health,' Dr. Berg says. Of course, if you have a family history of heart disease or are especially worried about your risk, it's a good idea to check in with a medical professional. They can give you an evaluation and suggest personalized next steps from there. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
