Nerdy Science Blog

“Resting to walk a longer distance,” is a Chinese proverb.  It has the same meaning as English proverb “after dinner sit a while, after supper walk a mile.”  This ‘resting’ philosophy has been proved by a recent study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.

The study showed that exercise is important in reducing women’s cancer risk, and sleeping itself is also essential in prevention.  The lead author, James McClain, who is also cancer prevention fellow at the National Cancer Institute said that consistent exercise may alter hormone levels, immune function, and body weight to prevent cancers, including breast and colon cancers.  The study focused on the connection between physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), sleep duration, and risk of beast and colon cancers.  The study started in 1998, following 5968 women who are at least 18 years through the Washington County Cancer Registry and Maryland State Cancer Registry.  The study showed that women slept less than seven hours a day had higher cancer risk.  The link between physical activity and sleeping is not clear yet.  Researchers will investigate the potential mechanisms involved in cancer prevention, and also assess the effect of insufficient and prolonged sleep duration.

(news)

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