4 Ways Women Can Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
Breast cancer continues to affect an increasing number of women, with about one in eight American women encountering it
some time in their lives. It leaves its victims battling for life and having to
redefine themselves and their femininity, often causing a huge blow to their
self esteem as well. Like with every disease, the best approach is prevention.
With breast cancer, prevention entails making lifestyle
adjustments. These include:
·
Regular exercise
Exercise has been proven to
reduce the risk of breast cancer especially in women past menopause. Any
exercise that raises your heart rate and makes you breathe faster for about
half an hour a day, at least four to five times a week. Regular exercise helps
keep weight in check and this is important since obesity is a risk factor for
breast cancer.
·
Healthy eating
A balanced diet is important because
the nutrients in healthy foods help fight disease. It should include fruits,
vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Fruits and vegetables have been
found to protect cells from cell damage that could eventually cause cancer. Whole
grains help reduce inflammation. All of these combined provide lots of reliable
energy that can definitely be useful for regular exercise and activity.
·
Reduced alcohol intake
Having three alcoholics drinks
a week raises the breast cancer risk for women by 15 percent. With every
additional drink consumed daily, the overall risk rises by 10 percent. These
figures speak to the impact alcohol has on breast cancer and why reducing
consumption is necessary.
·
Avoiding tobacco
Smoking remains a risk for
breast cancer, especially for premenopausal women. Secondhand smoke raises the
risk for postmenopausal women. Tobacco in any of its forms and byproducts is
definitely unhealthy for women and should be avoided.
As you strive to live a healthier life, remember that mammograms
can help detect breast cancer before it has spread too far. Make a habit of
getting regular mammograms just to be on the safe side.
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