A new study has found that regular physical activity can significantly lower a woman’s risk of developing cancer. A good sleep is another factor.
In a long-term study of nearly 6,000 US women, researchers found that those who exercised the most had a 25 percent lower chance of developing cancer than those who were the least active.
But among younger, physically active women, those who slept less than seven hours a night had a 47 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer than those who regularly got a good night’s rest.
Short duration sleep appears to have opposing effects of physical activity on several key hormonal and metabolic parameters.
It is not yet known exactly why exercise reduces cancer risks but it is believed to be due to lower body weight, improved immune function and hormone levels associated with regular physical activity.
Insufficient sleep has been linked to high risks of developing a number of conditions including heart disease, obesity and diabetes but, again, researchers have not determined exactly how sleep prevents cancer disease.
