In 2017, 252,720 women were expected to develop breast cancer. This number continues to climb higher each year, so how do you possibly prevent becoming part of this statistic? Believe it or not, there are ways to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. However, you will need to be willing to make a few alterations in your lifestyle. If you are onboard, you could reduce your risk of developing breast cancer and other conditions, such as kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Below, you will discover several ways to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking has been linked to breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women. If you are willing to lay down your cigarettes and never pick them up again, you will reduce your risk of breast cancer. In addition to this, you will reduce your risk of stroke, diabetes and dementia.
Maintain Your Weight
Scientists have been able to link obesity to cancer and other deadly diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Carrying around a few extra pounds may not seem a big deal, but it is because it will cause complex changes in your metabolism and hormones. These changes will increase your risk of developing breast cancer. To reduce these risks, all you need to do is lose weight. Auto accidents in Georgia is a major problem for the state, so make sure your car insurance is up-to-date.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Having a glass of wine every so often isn’t that big of a deal. However, if you consume more alcohol than that, you’re going to be far more likely to develop breast cancer at some point in the future. In fact, your risk will increase as you consume more and more alcohol. It is best to keep the limit to just 1 drink each day. This will allow you to have a good time, without increasing your risk of developing breast cancer.
Avoid Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy might be a necessity for some people, but it can also be risky. It has been shown that using hormone therapy for three to five years will ultimately increase your risk of getting breast cancer. If you’ve been recommended hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, you should speak with your doctor. There may be safer alternatives out there. If you feel that hormone therapy is your best option, it is best to keep the dose to a minimum. Also, be sure to minimize the length of time that you intend to remain on the hormone.
Exercising Regularly
It should already be well known that exercise is something that you should include in your daily regime. Still, there are too few women out there that exercise as often as they should. Well, you might get up and start moving after you learn that exercising can reduce your chances of developing breast cancer in two unique ways. First and foremost, it helps you maintain an ideal weight. Secondly, exercising can alter the estrogen metabolism. A recent study showed that women who gained 20 to 30 pounds since the age of eighteen are more likely to develop breast cancer than those who maintained their regular weight.
The reason this occurs is that when you gain weight it also causes the body to produce estrogen. Estrogen can stimulate cell growth, which will eventually lead to cell overgrowth and breast cancer.
