Workouts have since forever been the key to a healthier, disease-free life. But when it comes to potentially fatal health problems like cancer, it is rarely seen as the go-to solution. But many ponder whether workouts can keep a tumour at bay, specifically tumours like breast cancer that are so common. The answer to this is YES with significant differences.

Breast cancer is recognised as the most common cancer in women worldwide. Breast cancer is curable if diagnosed and treated at an early stage. The exact cause for cancer formation within the breast remains unknown but there is growing evidence highlighting certain risk factors.

Dr. Rucha Kaushik, Consultant – Breast Cancer Surgeon, P. D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC, Mahim, Mumbai, spoke about how regularly working out could help one dodge breast cancer in the first place.

What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

There are two types of risk factors associated with breast cancer:

Modifiable which can be modified at the individual level and can help in reducing the risk of cancer formation

Non-modifiable which one can not change like ageing, early age onset of the menstrual cycle, delayed menopause and hereditary/genetic contribution. Let’s focus on significant modifiable risk factors with which we can reduce our risk of getting breast cancer.

Modifiable risk factors include obesity, lack of physical activity, alcohol consumption and unsupervised hormone replacement therapy.

It has been found in more than 70 studies that the average risk reduction in women who are physically active or engaged in physical exercises is 25%.

Physical activity and physical exercise are the most economical tools we can use to reduce our risk of getting breast cancer.

Women worldwide manage homes, offices, kids and families by giving the best and the most. Her health is never included in the top 5 priorities sometimes even in the top 10.

What can be more important than your health?

This is a difficult topic for discussion but it’s of utmost importance and care. Modifiable risk factors for breast cancer or any other cancer are the factors if we change, we can drastically reduce our risk of getting cancer. Obesity is one such modifiable risk factor.

With multiple observational studies, it has been found that excess weight gain in the premenopausal period or being obese in the post-menopausal age is associated with a higher risk of getting breast cancer.

Body mass index and waist-hip ratio are the simplest and most commonly used measurements for assessing overweight or obesity. BMI is a calculated measure of weight relative to height. The normal range for a healthy BMI is between 18.5 to 24.9.

The easiest way women can calculate if they fall in the healthy weight category is by a simple formula height in cms -105=ideal weight for your height. It has been observed from combined statistical analysis of multiple studies that for each 5 kg/m2. Weight gain the estimated increased risk was around 12%.

Physical activity and exercises play a very important role in controlling weight and help to keep the environment inside the body in such a way that tumour cells cannot multiply or grow. The recommended physical activity for risk reduction is around 150 min of moderate exercise or 75 min of vigorous exercise per week.

It is important to be aware of lifestyle preventive measures not only in women above 40 years of age but in younger women as well.

Maintaining a healthy weight and doing regular physical exercises not only will reduce the risk of breast cancer but also reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Take charge of your health and go out for walks, exercise, jog or run whatever suits you as the benefits are beyond imagination and the happiness you feel inside in a healthy body is priceless

Source: news9live