A new study has found reason to believe that women who engage in regular exercise for the first four years after menopause can significantly reduce their risk of developing breast cancer. Based on the results of the research, women who exercised moderately were able to drop the cancer risk by at least 10%. Researchers believe that even low impact exercises would be effectual as long as they are done regularly.
Previous studies have shown that women of all ages who engage in regular physical activities can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 12%, but because of the hormonal changes that they undergo, postmenopausal women have been known to have a higher risk of developing the disease. However, according to the study that that has been published in the American Association for Cancer Research journal, postmenopausal women who can get in a fair amount of exercise to burn excess calories on a regular basis will benefit from it. The data compiled by researchers came from questionnaires that were completed by over 60,000 women who enrolled in a cancer study that spanned over eight years. Of the 60,000 participants, 2,155 were subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis was, however, about 10% lower for women who had engaged in regular exercise for the past four years.
A representative from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer, says, "being physically active doesn't need to be running or going to the gym-it can be anything from playing actively with your children, walking or gardening-anything that raises your pulse reduces your risk." She also added that, "Breast cancer is most common in postmenopausal women so it is great to see evidence like this, which supports the message that physical activity in this age group is beneficial." This study is the first of many that demonstrates the beneficial link between exercise and decreased risk of developing such health conditions.
