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A Higher VO2 Max May Offer Protections Against Cancer, Study Suggests

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A Higher VO2 Max May Offer Protections Against Cancer, Study Suggests
  • A new study found a link between higher cardiorespiratory fitness and lower risk of certain cancers.
  • The researchers also found an association between higher fitness level and lower risk of dying from cancer.

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), marked by your VO2 max, refers to the capacity for your circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to the muscles during sustained exercise, and the American Heart Association notes that it’s an important health marker for both physical and mental health.

As new research in JAMA Network Open suggests, it’s also a factor in reducing risk of colon and lung cancer in men.

Looking at data from a large cohort study in Sweden, researchers analyzed health and physical activity information on almost 18,000 men between the ages of 18 to 75, collected over nearly 10 years. CRF was assessed using a cycle ergometer test, which measures heart rate and oxygen consumption.

They found that higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with lower risk of developing colon and lung cancer. For those who did develop those cancers, higher fitness was associated with lower risk of death from those cancers within the study’s timeframe.

One possibly counterintuitive finding from the study is that higher CRF was associated with higher prostate cancer incidence. However, even in that result, researchers noted that those with high fitness levels showed a 5 percent lower death rate from that cancer.

Given the wide range in ages, researchers were able to determine that the cancer hazard risk was lowest for younger, non-smoking men at a normal weight and with the highest CRF.

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Overall, researchers concluded that having very high CRF levels for any age could prevent up to 8 percent of all colon cancer cases, 4 percent of all deaths from lung cancer, and between 4 to 19 percent of deaths from prostate cancer. They added that it’s likely higher-intensity physical activity could have even more protective effects.

Although the recent study was done only on men, there is ample other research showing similar benefits for women in terms of both cancer prevention and longer survival rates for those who do develop cancer.

For example, a recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine about cancer recurrence in men and women with stage III colon cancer found that for physically inactive patients, disease recurrence peaked within two years of treatment, but that wasn’t true with physically active patients, according to that study’s lead author, Justin Brown, Ph.D., director of the Cancer Metabolism Program at Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

Brown told Runner’s World that even for people who had not been very physically active before a cancer diagnosis, making the effort to get consistent exercise can improve health outcomes overall. That means you don’t just potentially live longer through reduced cancer risk or lower recurrence risk, you live better as well.

“Whether someone has cancer or they’re considering what could lower their risk, there’s something about this disease that causes people to step back and evaluate decisions like how they’re treating their health,” Brown said. “Health is comprised of many components, of course, but physical activity is a key starting point, and a crucial factor when it comes to lowering your risk level with cancer.”

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Elizabeth Millard is a freelance writer focusing on health, wellness, fitness, and food. 

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Fitness

One in three Australians has pain. Building muscle can help — and you don't need to leave home to do it

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One in three Australians has pain. Building muscle can help — and you don't need to leave home to do it

Muscles are getting plenty of positive press lately and for good reason.

Increasingly, we are understanding that lifting weights or doing resistance exercises are not just about getting ripped (though if that’s your driver, all power to you).

By building muscle, we can safeguard against falls into older age, make our bones stronger and less brittle, better control our blood-sugar levels and reduce the risk of a suite of serious diseases.

“It’s really about improving functioning, improving capacity,” physiotherapist Sammy Prowse, who works with the AFL’s Hawthorn Football Club, tells ABC RN’s Life Matters.

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TOI Health News Morning Briefing | AstraZeneca withdraws COVID vaccine, West Nile fever outbreak, pregnancy guide for summer season, fitness tips and more – Times of India

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TOI Health News Morning Briefing | AstraZeneca withdraws COVID vaccine, West Nile fever outbreak, pregnancy guide for summer season, fitness tips and more – Times of India
AstraZeneca withdraws COVID vaccine worldwide
AstraZeneca, the British pharmaceutical firm, is presently pulling its COVID vaccine from global circulation. This action follows months after the company acknowledged, for the first time in court records, the potential for a rare and hazardous side effect associated with the vaccine. The withdrawal request was submitted on March 5 and became effective this Tuesday, as reported.
“Have disclosed all side effects in packaging”: Serum Institute of India
In response to the side effects of the vaccine, the Serum Institute of India has said that they have disclosed all the rare to very rare side effects in its packaging since 2021.”We fully understand the ongoing concerns and it’s crucial to emphasize our commitment to transparency and safety. From the outset, we have disclosed all rare to very rare side effects, including Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, in the packaging insert in 2021,” the SII spokesperson said.
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In three districts of Kerala—Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Thrissur—more than 10 cases of West Nile fever, transmitted by the Culex species of mosquitoes, have been reported. Responding to the increase in infections, the State Health Department has issued an alert and directed authorities to intensify pre-monsoon cleaning efforts.
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Although asthma is a common respiratory condition marked by airway inflammation and narrowing, it often coexists with other illnesses, worsening symptoms and complicating treatment.
Summer pregnancy survival guide
Attention expecting mothers! With rising temperatures, it’s essential to focus on your health for a comfortable experience during the sunny season. Keep hydrated by consuming water-rich foods such as watermelon and cucumber. Take shelter indoors during the hottest hours to prevent fatigue. When outdoors, protect yourself from the sun’s rays with loose clothing and sunscreen.
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Consuming a balanced diet is crucial for the growth of a child. The developing eye requires specific micronutrients like vitamin A, essential fatty acids, and zinc. Deficiency in these nutrients can lead to various eye conditions such as keratomalacia and night blindness due to lack of vitamin A, repeated bleeds in the conjunctiva due to vitamin C deficiency, and impaired brain development due to essential fatty acid deficiency.
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Speeding up your walking can enhance calorie burning, enhance cardiovascular health, and make your walks more effective. Whether you’re walking for fitness, transportation, or daily errands, here are some simple pointers to help you increase your walking speed.
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Ovarian cysts, characterized by fluid-filled or solid sacs forming within or on the ovary’s surface, are frequent occurrences in women of reproductive age. Often, these cysts go unnoticed and resolve independently without any symptoms or complications. Nonetheless, specific warning signals should not be disregarded, as they may signify a more significant problem necessitating medical intervention.
While walking do these 3 exercises to lose arm fat
Regardless of whether you’re walking outdoors, on a treadmill, or simply around the house, we’ve compiled a list of arm exercises that you can integrate into your walks. Remember to proceed at your own pace and prioritize walking over arm movements. Focus on maintaining balance and controlling your upper body. To engage your core and enhance stability while walking, draw your navel towards your spine.

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Does walking really count as a workout? Here’s what an expert trainer says

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Does walking really count as a workout? Here’s what an expert trainer says

As a dog owner and a fitness writer, I do a lot of walking. While testing out some of the best walking shoes recently, I wondered whether or not my stroll counted as a workout. My heart rate was elevated and I was breaking a sweat but I wasn’t sure I was doing enough to improve my cardio fitness.

I decided to speak to NASM-certified personal trainer, Ellen Thompson, the head personal trainer at Blink Fitness NYC. Not only did I want to know if walking is technically cardio, but I wanted to find out if there was a minimum pace I needed to hit to turn my walk into a cardio workout.

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