Sleeping less than five hours increases risk of prostate cancer

According to scientists, sleeping less than five hours a night may increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Men above 65 years that are not sleeping up to seven hours recommended by National Sleep Foundation are at risk of developing terminal diseases.

American Cancer Society in Atlanta examined data from two long-term studies. The first study followed more than 407,000 men between 1950 and 1972, the second followed 416,000 men from 1982 to 2012.

All the men were cancer free at the beginning of the study, more than 1,500 men in first study and more than 8,700 men in second study died of prostate cancer when checked out later.

Not sleeping very well turned off genes that protect cancer growth and prevent production of melatonin. According to Dr Gapstur, reduced melatonin can accelerate genetic mutations, reduced DNA repair and weakened immune system.