October is Breast Cancer Awareness month! When it comes to breast cancer, there are some lifestyle factors research has shown to decrease risk. Here are 5 things everyone can do for their breast health.
Maintain a healthy weight
Women who are overweight or obese after menopause have a 30-60 percent higher breast cancer risk than those who are lean. The best way to figure out if you’re at a healthy weight is to calculate your body mass index (BMI). Even BMI isn’t a perfect measure since we come in all shapes and sizes, but it’s better than weight alone since it takes height into account too.
Exercise
Regular exercise appears to lower breast cancer risk by 10-20 percent. The American Cancer Society recommends 2.5 hours of physical activity a week to lower overall cancer risk. What you do doesn’t need to be intense or time-consuming. Small things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, biking short distances instead of driving or parking farther away when you drive to the store can make a difference.
Limit alcohol
Researchers looked at a bunch of different studies and found that for each alcoholic drink consumed per day, the relative risk of breast cancer increased about 7 percent. Drinking in moderation may be okay, but try to limit yourself to less than one drink a day (less than 2 drinks a day for men).
Limit menopausal hormone therapy
(MHT, a.k.a. postmenopausal hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy). MHT used to be common to treat the symptoms of menopause. Today, researchers know that MHT increases the risk of breast cancer, so it’s only recommended in very low doses for short periods of time.
And for the new, soon-to-be, and someday-mothers among us, there’s one more thing you can do to reduce your breast cancer risk.
Breastfeed
You may have heard that breastfeeding is good for babies, but did you know it has benefits for mothers too? One of those benefits: a lower risk of breast cancer.
Everyone can benefit from a healthy lifestyle.
Being active, eating a balanced diet and making healthy lifestyle choices can be physically and mentally rewarding at any point in life.
