The officer added that following the alleged racist comment she suffered from lack of sleep and headaches, which a doctor said was probably caused by stress.

BBC: PC David Hair (left) and PC Kevin Hughes

It's not clear from this study whether cancer risk is truly affected by lack of sleep, says Rapoport, but it is certainly a possibility.

CNN: Exercise plus sleep may lower cancer risk in women

Sleep or the lack of it is the cause of minor and major aliments from puffy eyes, weight gain to heart disease.

FORBES: Wellness Advice That Also Applies to Entrepreneurship