Breast cancer continues to remain one of the leading forms of the killer disease that claims the lives of millions of women across the globe. With the increasing prevalence of breast cancer among women of different age groups, there are few steps that you could take to lower the chances of developing it.
The risk that factors such as age, sex and genetics pose cannot be changed but a series of other cancer-causing factors can be modified to decrease the risk. Although certain established risks factors of developing breast cancer are considered to be constant to a large extent, there are certain steps that you might undertake to minimize your risk.
Exercising
Studies evaluating the causative factors of breast cancer have indicated that physical activity in the form of exercising plays a significant role in lowering the chances of developing breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, in order to bring down the risk of developing the killer disease, women should indulge in some kind of a physical activity for 45 to 60 minutes at least five times a week.
Although insight into the amount of exercise needed to lower the risk continues to remain ambiguous, research hints that 1.25 to 2.5 hours of brisk walking every week would lower the risk of developing breast cancer among women by 18 per cent.
Losing Additional Calories
If you are overweight and fall in the obese category, then your chances of developing breast cancer is substantially high, studies have revealed. Obesity has been found to enhance the breast cancer risk, especially among females who have reached the age of menopause.
Prior to menopause, most of the estrogen in the body is secreted by the ovaries while only a small amount is made by the fat tissues. However, following menopause, fat tissues secrete most of the hormones. With more fat tissues, the amount of estrogen produced is high which in turn, accentuates the risk of developing breast cancer. Health experts have reiterated the importance of maintaining a healthy weight to keep breast cancer at bay.
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Controlling Alcohol Consumption
Increased alcohol consumption has been linked with a higher risk of developing breast cancer. The amount of alcohol intake has been directly related to the risk of developing the killer disease at later stages of life. Women who regularly consume alcohol are much more likely to suffer from breast cancer in comparison to those who do not drink at all. Apart from breast cancer, excessive consumption of alcohol has also been linked to an increased risk of developing cancer of throat, liver, oesophagus as well as mouth.
Increasing Breast-Feeding Habits
Mothers of new-born babies have a greater chance of keeping breast cancer at bay as studies show that breast-feeding, if continued for a period of at least one year, might decrease the risk of developing cancer. The fact that women tend to eat nourishing foods while maintaining a healthy lifestyle might be some of the contributing factors that decrease the chances of developing breast cancer when a woman breast-feeds.
Maintaining An Overall Healthy Lifestyle
Despite the fact that the risk posed by established factors can hardly be modified, maintaining a healthy lifestyle by making wholesome health choices surely goes a long way in lowering the breast cancer risk.
