Vigorous exercise protects against breast cancer, new research says
31.10.2008 02:01
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Plenty of vigorous exercise may cut a healthy, older woman's breast cancer risk by 30 per cent, researchers said on Friday. A study of more than 30,000 post-menopausal women showed that strenuous activity — ranging from housework such as scrubbing floors to running — protected against breast cancer even among those who do not have a higher risk, the researchers said. The effect was clearest among lean women. "We know that being overweight puts women at increased risk of breast cancer," said Michael Leitzmann, who led the study while at the National Cancer Institute of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. "What our study shows is that even among women without this increased risk, if they exercise they can get some benefit." Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide, according to the American Cancer Society. The group estimates about 465,000 women died of breast cancer globally in 2007, and 1.3 million new cases were diagnosed. A number of studies have shown that regular strenuous exercise can help people avoid heart disease, cancer and a range of other conditions. Leitzmann and colleagues used questionnaires to determine how often the women exercised vigorously. All were healthy when the study began. After 11 years the researchers found that overall the volunteers who exercised most were 13 per cent less likely to have developed breast cancer. The reduced risk was even higher — 30 percent — when the researchers compared only women of normal weight, Leitzmann, now working at Germany's University Hospital in Regensburg, said in a telephone interview. "The relationship was much stronger among leaner women," he added. Interestingly, non-vigorous activity such as light housework, walking, hiking and easy jogging, did not seem to offer any protection against breast cancer, the team reported in BioMed Central's Breast Cancer Research journal. The researchers did not look at why exercise may help but Leitzmann noted other studies have shown that working out reduces estrogen levels —a known risk factor for the disease — and protects the body's general immune system. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksIN DEPTH: Breast cancer and exerciseExternal LinksBreast Cancer Research(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window) Health HeadlinesSaskatchewan hospital also reused syringes: health officialsA hospital in Lloydminster, Sask., has been reusing syringes to inject medication into intravenous lines, a practice that has recently raised widespread concern in Alberta.No-shows contributing to blood shortage, official saysWould-be donors who forget or refuse to keep appointments at blood banks are contributing to a shortage in blood supplies, an official warns. Vigorous exercise protects against breast cancer, new research saysPlenty of vigorous exercise can cut a healthy, older woman's breast cancer risk by 30 per cent, researchers said on Friday.Gaps remain in monitoring hospital hygiene in Ont.: report Most hospitals in Ontario reported having formal hand hygiene policies, but about two-thirds lacked a monitoring process to ensure the procedures are followed, according to a study released Thursday.Therapy plus antidepressant best for kids with anxiety disorder: studyChildren with anxiety disorders are most likely to be helped when treated with psychotherapy as well as an antidepressant, suggests a study that also found benefits in the use therapy alone. Health FeaturesYOUR INTERVIEWAsk an expertDiet and nutrition tipsYOUR HEALTHKids and allergiesShare your viewHEALTH Flu shotDespite doubts, doctors still approveSCIENCE FRICTIONStephen StraussVitamin D: Not simply cause and effectHEALTHAttention span8 reasons why you can't pay attentionWEEKLY CHECKUPNaturopathic medicineGreying nationPeople who read this also read …
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