Sitting and stagnation lead to sickness: Study finds exercising regularly lowers risk of colorectal and lung cancer

Lung cancer and colorectal cancer are among the most diagnosed forms of cancer in the U.S. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer, with colorectal cancer coming in third.

Researchers from John Hopkin’s School of Medicine in Baltimore found that regular exercise can help reduce the risk of developing these cancers. The study had a diverse population, including women, black people, and Hispanics. The study was funded by the Conquer Cancer Foundation.

Exercising daily can reduce the risk of lung and colorectal cancer

Many studies have affirmed that exercising has a lot of health benefits. One of these is the maintenance of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). This refers to the measure of peak energy expenditure and reflects a person’s overall health. It takes into account physical activity, genetic factors, age, and the functional health of organs. CRF is commonly expressed in metabolic equivalents of task (METs).

The connection between CRF and lung and colorectal cancers was not well-explored, and the researchers aimed to better understand the link between the two.

They examined data from 49,193 patients of varying age, sex, race, and levels of physical fitness. The patients’ ages ranged from 40 to 70 years old, 46 percent of which were women, 64 percent were white, 29 percent were black, and one percent were of Hispanic descent. They have all undergone exercise stress tests of fitness between 1991 and 2009.

The researchers divided the patients by their MET values from the stress test: six METs and under, six to nine METs, 10 to 11 METs, and 12 METs and over.

Researchers followed up for an average duration of 7.7 years. They kept tabs on the patients’ conditions by checking the cancer registry and crosschecking deaths through the National Death Index.

Their findings revealed that patients who had higher CRF (12 METs and above) had a 77 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Compared to the least fit patients, they also had a 61 percent reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer. Researchers adjusted the results to remove any potential effects stemming from differences in sex, age, race, body mass index, smoking habits, and diabetes.

Additionally, researchers found that the positive results related to high CRF also applied to patients who were diagnosed with lung and colorectal cancer. These patients had reduced risks of dying in the years of follow-up. Those who had colorectal cancer significantly reduced their risk of death by 89 percent, while those diagnosed with lung cancer decreased it by 44 percent.

Overall, the researchers suggested that there was a possible link between CRF and lung and colorectal cancer. However, the connection cannot be verified by this study because it was not designed to draw such a conclusion. In order to verify their findings, the researchers asserted the need for further studies.

Finding ways to exercise more

With busy schedules, exercising may seem like it takes too much time. However, studies have repeatedly shown that exercise is crucial for maintaining a high CRF and overall healthy body. It helps prevent obesity and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Commit to exercising regularly in order to reap its rewards in the future. (Related: If “sitting is the new smoking,” who is responsible for the health consequences of desk jobs?)

Here are some ways to help you make time for exercise:

• Set a schedule for it. Treat exercise like any other appointment. Schedule a session once or twice a week at first until it becomes a habit. Once it has, increase the number of sessions. Before you realize it, exercise has become integrated into your lifestyle.
• Become part of a group. Joining a sports team, a Zumba class, or a walking group offers a lot of support. Surrounded by people with the same goal, it will help you stay focused on your fitness goals while receiving and giving encouragement to others.
• Involve the whole family. Exercise can become a fun family activity. It helps children become more active while spending more time with them. Moreover, it teaches them at a young age the importance and benefits of exercise.

While the connection between CRF and lung and colorectal cancers is not yet very clear, it offers a lot of possibilities on the prevention and treatment of these dreaded diseases. For more health benefits of regular exercise, visit Slender.news.

Sources include:

MedicalNewsToday.com

OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com

MayoClinic.org