Regular Walking Reduces Risk For Several Types Of Cancer

Breast cancer is not the only malignant disease that can be prevented by such simple exercise as walking. The data on colorectal cancer show a similar trend.

Colorectal cancer is the most common gastrointestinal cancer that affects a significant proportion of population, especially those at more advanced age. Recent research has shown that exercise has its effect in decreasing the likelihood of this disease as well. A regular exercise stimulates bowel motility, which decreases the likelihood of diet-derived carcinogens to come in contact with the bowel wall. This, in turn, reduces the risk of cancerous changes in the bowel.

Much work is going on to find the correlation between physical exercise and cancer prevention, but the exact mechanisms rendering the cancer protection are yet to be elucidated. What exercise to do and how much to do is another question that is often asked. It seems that even simple recreational activity can greatly reduce the risk of colorectal cancers.

A cross-sectional study was carried out back in 2009 demonstrated the usefulness of simple exercise in the treatment of colorectal cancer. The study has shown that brisk walking can reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer by 40%. The study was based on 7 hours of walking per week, i.e. one hour daily.

The study has also shown that the brisk walking or similar physical exercise for 4 hours per week increase the longevity of the individual affected by colorectal cancer, and these simple exercises enhances the efficacy of the cancer treatment. The mortality in patients performing recreational activities was greatly reduced before and after the diagnosis of colorectal cancers, whereas longer leisure time spent sitting correlated with higher mortality rates. That is why physiotherapists and doctors advise a daily exercise of one hour to keep a basal level of fitness.

Simple lifestyle modifications can prevent fatal diseases

Not all of us are keen sportsmen. Many people find it hard to engage in serious physical exercises on a regular basis. The huge amount of gym membership that were once bought and hardly even used confirms how difficult is to implement good intentions into daily routine.

But for proper functioning our body needs to stay active, and it doesn’t really matter how. Walking every day is a very good practice which is relatively easy to incorporate into our busy schedule. One can try walking instead of driving whenever possible. Cycling which is so popular in many countries is another good method of keeping ones muscles in tone and body fat in control. Shorter lapses of exercising, such as 10 minutes of exercise 3 times a day, might be easier to afford.

Read More: Endometrial Cancer: Scientists Find Protective Role Of Exercise, Low-Fat Diet, And Coffee

Walking helps to cancer survivors

Exercise is not only beneficial for healthy people but it also has a positive effect on the longevity of cancer survivors. Clearly, a cancer patient wants to prevent its recurrence as much as possible. Some of the benefits of exercise include greater muscle strength, decreased body fat and hence decreased weight gain. Women going through different forms of exercise after completing their breast cancer treatment are known to live better, longer and have a decreased rate of cancer recurrence. Walking greatly helps to post-surgical women who recover from this disease.

Like all forms of physical activity, walking is beneficial for our health. Its contribution to the cancer prevention should be taken seriously, particularly by those who have little free time for regular sporting activities. Walking can be particularly beneficial for older people who can’t engage in more demanding physical exercises anymore.