Endometrial cancer is a form of cancer that begins in the lining of the uterus, or the womb.  The uterus is the organ where the growth and development of a fetus takes place on pregnant women. The cells located in the uterus’ lining undergo alteration and starts to grow and multiply erratically and uncontrollably.

As the cells continue to grow, divide and multiply, a tumour is formed.  Cancer is perilous because it overpowers the healthy cells.  Cancer cells take the place of healthy cells, robbing them of their nutrients and oxygen which are essential for normal cells to survive and function properly.

In developed countries, endometrial cancer, or also known as uterine cancer, is the most common form of cancer which can be found in the genital tract of the female.  In the United States alone, it is the fourth in the list of the most common cancer found in women. In 2009, 42,160 women from the US were diagnosed with uterine cancer, and 7,800 women died because of this.  The National Cancer Institute approximated that by the year 2010, 43,470 new cases will be diagnosed, and 7,950 women will die from endometrial cancer.  These figures are for the United States alone.

About a fourth of cases commonly occur before the onset of menopause, but endometrial cancer is oftentimes diagnosed in women who are in their 50s or 60s.

Exercise and Endometrial Cancer

A recent study revealed that a weekly exercise of 150 minutes or more may reduce a woman’s risk of developing cancer of the endometrium by up to one-third. The research effort was led by an associate professor of Yale School of Public Health located in New Haven, Connecticut, Herbert Yu, MD, MSc, PhD.  Researchers compared 665 healthy, cancer-free women with 668 women, who were diagnosed with endometrial cancer and who were of the same age as the cancer-free group.  The women were given questionnaires for them to answer questions asking about their recreational performance, environment, lifestyle and other physical activities.

Based on the results of the survey, the researchers discovered that women who are in the habit of exercising 150 minutes or more each week exhibited a 34 percent reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer even when factors such as the body mass index (BMI) were adjusted.  The BMI is actually an approximation of one’s body fat in terms of weight and height. The study also revealed that for active women who had a BMI of 25, or less than 25, greater risk reduction was noted – specifically pegged at 73 percent. Meanwhile, women with normal weight but are inactive exhibited a 55 percent lowered risk and overweight, active women had a 38 percent reduced risk.  The findings of the research were presented at the Ninth Annual American Association for Cancer Research International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research which was held in Philadelphia.

The researchers expressed that the results of the study suggests that both BMI and exercise levels affect a person’s risk of developing endometrial cancer.  They also re-affirm previous findings that show an independent link between the reduced risk for endometrial cancer and exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put out a recommendation saying that adults between the ages of 18 and 64 get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week.  Exercises that promote the strengthening of all major muscle groups should be performed at least twice in a week.

Top 3 Reasons Why Exercise is Good for You:

1. Exercise Helps You Deal With Weight Issues

People have long been engaged in a battle with the bulge.  After trying out all the latest fads in dieting, or desperately searching for a weight-loss pill that would actually work, people should realize that one does not need to look far and wide.  Constantly engaging in physical activity such as sports or exercise can help you burn calories and will ultimately help you to keep your weight under control.  The good news is that extravagant forms of exercise, mostly done with flair at a first-class gym, are not really a requirement.  Choosing to take the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking three blocks to get to your favourite bookstore, or taking the dog out for a walk on a daily basis are acceptable means of exercising.

2. Exercise Fights Off Life-threatening Diseases

Being physically active has its benefits, and sometimes, something as simple as spending 30 minutes on the treadmill could mean the difference between life and death. Regular exercise can help you manage your blood pressure levels.  This is of great importance for people who are diagnosed with hypertension.  It also boosts good cholesterol levels and at the same time, it also decreases triglycerides which help you prevent heart diseases and the occurrence of stroke.

According to researchers from the Duke University, the amount, rather than the intensity, of physical activity is more important in improving cholesterol levels.  The researchers also discovered that any form of exercise is much, much better than having no exercise at all.  Their findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Here are some disease conditions that can benefit from regular exercise:

• Heart Disease. As previously mentioned, the triglyceride-lowering effect of exercise prevents the build-up of fatty plaques in the lining of the arteries.  This means that blood flow is smooth and the heart does not need to work extra hard to supply all organs in the body with blood that carries the essential nutrients and oxygen.
  
  
• Stroke.  When fatty plaques are deposited in the arteries, it has the potential of being dislodged and will go on to block small arteries especially found in the brain which, in turn, will cause stroke.  Exercise prevents fatty plaque deposition because of its effects on lowering the levels of bad cholesterol.
  
  Participants in a study, who were considered to be moderately active, had a 20 percent reduction in the risk of stroke compared to participants who were less active.  This is according to a study published in the Stroke journal.
  
  
• Type II Diabetes. Regular physical activity can help in a person’s weight loss efforts.  The loss of weight greatly increases insulin sensitivity, reduces blood pressure, and improves cholesterol and blood sugar levels. All of these are essential for the health of diabetics.

3. Exercise Allows You to Sleep Better

After a long day at work, sleep is a chance to rejuvenate your body and soothe the tired mind.  In order to get a good night’s sleep, doing regular physical exercise during the day can help you sleep faster, and deeper.  But remember not to exercise too close to bedtime since this will do just the opposite.

Sources
cancer.org
emedicinehealth.com
nutristrategy.com
mayoclinic.com
medicinenet.com
webmd.com