It has long been known that exercise can contribute to lowering the risks of many diseases including cancer. Even though other factors such as genetics, environment, stress, etc., play a role, on average, those who keep physically fit have better health outcomes.
A new study by the British Journal of Sports Medicine was reported on by nbcnews.com focusing on prostate cancer–a cancer that is diagnosed in 113 of every 100,000 men each year. The study focused on cardiovascular exercise; these are exercises that increase heart and respiratory rates (as opposed to those that are focused on building muscle). Examples of these types of activities are swimming, jogging, dancing, and cycling, as well as many sports activities. It found that no matter what level a man’s fitness, a 3% increase in cardiorespiratory fitness each year for 5 years leads to a 35% decrease in risk for prostate cancer compared to those whose cardiorespiratory fitness decreased 3% each year for 5 years.
Studies in the past seemed to indicate that more exercise might lead to an increase in prostate cancer, but those studies did not take into account many factors. The most recent testing accounted for factors that might have skewed the results. Interestingly (and vexingly), there is still no certainty as to how these changes in fitness levels affect the occurence (or not) of prostate cancer. More research will be needed.
In the meantime, it appears that men have yet another reason to improve their cardiovascular fitness levels. As Dr. William Ho, Chief Medical Officer of the Prostate Cancer Foundation (that was not involved in the study) pointed out, the research shows that “no matter what age, no matter where you are in your life or your relative fitness, that if you improve your fitness, even by a relatively small amount, you may significantly decrease your risk of developing prostate cancer.”
Kosher Fitness 