Australian scientists have found a simple way to reduce the risk of cancer
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Scientists from the University of Sydney in a large sample of 22,398 people determined that even a small physical activity, equal to 4.5 minutes, but of high intensity every day can significantly reduce the risk of cancer.
WHAT LOAD IS USEFUL?
This is the so-called intense intermittent physical activity (Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity, VILPA), and in our life it is brisk walking, climbing stairs or even active games with children.
Such physical activity resembles high-intensity interval training, but only in everyday life, said University of Sydney professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, lead author of the study.
HOW WAS THE INVESTIGATION?
More than 22,000 people with an average age of 62 years have been selected from the largest database of the British Biobank. These were people who weren’t very athletic, those who rarely even do fitness walks (once a week or less) and spend no time training, as well as people with existing cancers. Health dynamics were tracked among the participants in terms of deaths and hospitalizations, the frequency of cancer detection, and were detected in 2,356 people during the seven-year follow-up period.
WHAT INTENSIVE ACTIVITY HELPS CANCER?
An analysis of the data collected during the study showed that even the minimal level of vigorous physical activity (3.4 to 3.6 minutes duration per day) was associated with a 17 to 18 percent decrease in cancer incidence. %, compared to people who do not have it. activity.was.
If the duration of short, intense physical activity averaged 4.5 minutes per day, then people suffered from cancer 31-32% less frequently compared to inactive people. We measure bursts of activity with the help of fitness bracelets. According to the authors of an article published in a prestigious scientific journal based on a study, most middle-aged people do not exercise regularly, find it too difficult, and are not in the habit of paying attention to their bodies, which increases the risk of developing cancer.
“Increasing the duration of vigorous physical activity to four to five minutes a day, performed in short bouts of approximately one minute each, was associated with a measurable reduction in cancer risk, at peak of nearly one-third,” says Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis. Of course, more studies are needed to confirm the identified relationship. However, the results suggest that vigorous intermittent physical activity has the potential to be an effective and cost-effective option for reducing cancer risk in people who dislike or find it difficult to exercise regularly.
WHY DO INTENSE BUT SHORT WORKOUTS WORK?
Intermittent vigorous physical activity exercises the heart and lungs, which may be a possible biological explanation for the reduced cancer risk. Other possible factors are an increase in insulin sensitivity and an increase in the body’s general resistance to chronic inflammation.
To the point
According to the WHO, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world.
In 2020 alone, almost one in six deaths on the planet was due to cancer.
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