Getting Less than 7 Hours Sleep a Night May Damage DNA

Getting less than seven hours' sleep a night could damage DNA 'beyond repair' and even lead to cancer.

A lack of sleep could permanently damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer, scientists believe.

Sleep deprivation can also reduce DNA's ability to repair itself, possibly leading to genetic diseases, findings from a study suggest.

Researchers believe it is the first study of its kind to look into the effects of sleep deprivation on genes in young adults.

The research focused on doctors who had to adjust their sleep patterns due to night shift work. Scientists do not know why a lack of sleep damages DNA. Read more