Latest news with #Biobank
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Walking certain number of steps daily reduces cancer risk, Oxford study finds
Exercise is known to reduce cancer risk — but that doesn't have to mean hard-core gym sessions or long runs. A new study led by Oxford researchers reveals that casual walking and other light-intensity activities are enough to lower cancer incidence. The number of steps was found to be more important than the pace of the walk, they found. Just 4 Minutes Of Intense Daily Activity Could Slash Cancer Risk Among 'Non-exercisers,' Study Finds Those who walked 7,000 steps per day had an 11% lower cancer risk compared to those taking 5,000 steps per day, and the risk was 16% lower for those taking 9,000 steps per day, according to a press release from the Oxford Centre for Early Cancer Detection at the University of Oxford. Even shopping and performing household chores have been shown to reduce cancer risk. Read On The Fox News App Overall, those who had the highest total amount of daily physical activity were 26% less likely to develop cancer compared to those with the lowest amount, after adjusting for lifestyle factors, body mass index (BMI) and other health conditions. The study, which was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed activity tracker data for 85,394 people in the UK Biobank averaging 63 years of age. Cancer Deaths And Tax Rates Linked In Surprising New Study: Here's How They then compared that data with future cancer diagnoses in 2,633 participants over a nearly six-year period. While previous studies have used self-reported exercise to determine reduced cancer risk, this one used "more precise data" based on wearable activity trackers. "Our research highlights the importance of all forms of movement," senior study author Aiden Doherty, professor of biomedical informatics at Oxford Population Health, said in the release. "Whether it's increasing daily steps, engaging in light activity or incorporating moderate-to-vigorous exercise, any level of physical activity appears to contribute to lower cancer risk." "Our findings support and enhance current national and international physical activity guidelines, showing that people who often engage in simple low-intensity activities, such as walking, have a lower risk of developing cancer." Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, pointed out that cancer is linked to inflammation, which is linked to sedentary behavior. "All kinds of activity, including walking, increases metabolic function and decreases inflammation," Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "The results of this study are not surprising and are in keeping with previous and ongoing research." For more Health articles, visit In addition to Oxford Health researchers, experts from the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute participated in the study. Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health's Intramural Research Program and the National Institutes of Health's Oxford Cambridge Scholars article source: Walking certain number of steps daily reduces cancer risk, Oxford study finds
Fox News
17-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Walking certain number of steps daily reduces cancer risk, Oxford study finds
Print Close By Melissa Rudy Published May 17, 2025 Exercise is known to reduce cancer risk — but that doesn't have to mean hard-core gym sessions or long runs. A new study led by Oxford researchers reveals that casual walking and other light-intensity activities are enough to lower cancer incidence. The number of steps was found to be more important than the pace of the walk, they found. JUST 4 MINUTES OF INTENSE DAILY ACTIVITY COULD SLASH CANCER RISK AMONG 'NON-EXERCISERS,' STUDY FINDS Those who walked 7,000 steps per day had an 11% lower cancer risk compared to those taking 5,000 steps per day, and the risk was 16% lower for those taking 9,000 steps per day, according to a press release from the Oxford Centre for Early Cancer Detection at the University of Oxford. Even shopping and performing household chores have been shown to reduce cancer risk. Overall, those who had the highest total amount of daily physical activity were 26% less likely to develop cancer compared to those with the lowest amount, after adjusting for lifestyle factors, body mass index (BMI) and other health conditions. The study, which was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed activity tracker data for 85,394 people in the UK Biobank averaging 63 years of age. CANCER DEATHS AND TAX RATES LINKED IN SURPRISING NEW STUDY: HERE'S HOW They then compared that data with future cancer diagnoses in 2,633 participants over a nearly six-year period. While previous studies have used self-reported exercise to determine reduced cancer risk, this one used "more precise data" based on wearable activity trackers. "Our research highlights the importance of all forms of movement," senior study author Aiden Doherty, professor of biomedical informatics at Oxford Population Health, said in the release. "Whether it's increasing daily steps, engaging in light activity or incorporating moderate-to-vigorous exercise, any level of physical activity appears to contribute to lower cancer risk." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Our findings support and enhance current national and international physical activity guidelines, showing that people who often engage in simple low-intensity activities, such as walking, have a lower risk of developing cancer." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, pointed out that cancer is linked to inflammation, which is linked to sedentary behavior. "All kinds of activity, including walking, increases metabolic function and decreases inflammation," Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "The results of this study are not surprising and are in keeping with previous and ongoing research." For more Health articles, visit In addition to Oxford Health researchers, experts from the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute participated in the study. Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health's Intramural Research Program and the National Institutes of Health's Oxford Cambridge Scholars Program. Print Close URL
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Vitamin Deficiency May Raise Your Heart Disease Risk by 10%, New Study Says
Reviewed by Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A., RDA new study found a link between vitamin D and heart disease. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are both common. Vitamin D is found in few foods, but it is produced with sunlight skin we often refer to heart disease as one condition, it's actually a term that comprises many conditions related to the heart and blood vessels. Under the umbrella of cardiovascular disease (CVD), there are specific categories like atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Athersclerotic heart diseases are related to plaques that accumulate in the arteries. Those plaques narrow the blood vessels—sometimes completely—or narrow them so much that blood clots can't get through, sealing off the blood vessel. This can result in a heart attack or stroke. The plaques also make the blood vessels less elastic and stiffer, which can raise blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of premature death in the U.S. and worldwide. And while women's rates of heart disease tend to be lower than men's earlier in life, women's risk of heart disease rises to match men's after menopause. There is evidence that suggests a connection between vitamin D blood levels and cardiovascular disease, the atherosclerotic variety in particular. Researchers from Germany took a closer look at this relationship and recently published their findings in the journal Clinical Nutrition. Let's break down what they found. Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Take Vitamin D Every Day More than 500,000 participants have health data in the UK Biobank, and these researchers drew data for almost 410,000 of them who met the study criteria. On average, participants were 57 years old when the study began, and about 55% were female. The average follow-up time was 16 years. Researchers pulled information including medical records and death certificates, vitamin D blood levels at baseline and whether or not the participants took a vitamin D supplement. The types of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease researchers were examining were: ischemic heart disease, which happens when clogged blood vessels limit oxygen to the heart peripheral artery disease, which happens when clogged arteries in the extremities, like the legs, limit blood to your limbs cerebrovascular disease, which happens when arteries to the brain are clogged, preventing the brain from getting the oxygen it needs atherosclerotic disease, or a buildup of plaque in arteries that can lead to ischemic heart disease. Researchers adjusted for lifestyle factors like BMI, smoking status and alcohol intake. The team considered vitamin D deficiency as having vitamin D levels less than 30 nmol/L, and vitamin D insufficiency at a range between 30 and <50 nmol/L. Sufficient vitamin D levels were defined as 50 to <100 nmol/L, and high vitamin D levels were over 100 mmol/L. More than half the participants were either vitamin D deficient (almost 21%) or insufficient (over 34%). Very few were over the recommended vitamin D blood levels (1.5%). Of the entire study population, 4.3% reported supplementing specifically with vitamin D, and another 21% took a multivitamin that included vitamin D—those multivitamins typically offer much less vitamin D than a pure vitamin D supplement. Overall, the researchers found that vitamin D deficiency was associated with a 10% increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. And after breaking atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease down into specific conditions, vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased risks of ischemic heart disease (10%), cerebrovascular disease (7%), atherosclerotic disease (17%) and peripheral artery disease (13%). For those who were only vitamin D insufficient—not deficient—insufficiency was associated with a 5% increased risk of total atherosclerotic heart disease and a 4% increased risk of ischemic heart disease. Those with vitamin D deficiency showed a 35% increased risk of dying from atherosclerotic heart disease compared to an 8% increase in non-fatal ASCVD. For those who took vitamin D supplements, they experienced a 6% reduced risk of atherosclerotic heart disease and a 10% reduced risk of ischemic heart disease. Supplementing with a multivitamin containing vitamin D was associated with a reduced risk of total atherosclerotic heart disease (7%), ischemic heart disease (8%) and peripheral artery disease (8%). Like all studies, this one has its limitations. Many of the covariates—lifestyle factors that researchers adjust for—were self-reported, which may lead to bias and misreporting. There was also missing information regarding the dosage, frequency and ingredients of the vitamin D supplements, so researchers can't be sure how much they were taking. Plus, the data used was drawn from the start of the study, which doesn't take into account others who may have started supplementing at a later date or those who stopped. Lastly, the UK Biobank is composed mostly of white men and women, so it is unknown if these results apply to other ethnicities. Related: 5 Supplements to Avoid If You Have High Blood Pressure, According to Experts Researchers recommend that you get your levels tested before supplementing with vitamin D. If your vitamin D levels are below 60 nmol/L, they suggest that you may benefit from supplementation to help reduce the risk of atherosclerotic heart disease. There is evidence that about 25% of Americans are vitamin D deficient, and 41% have insufficient levels of vitamin D. This means that a whopping two-thirds of Americans may be at an increased risk of heart disease due to a lack of vitamin D. Thankfully, this can be remedied. Getting outdoors more often to get sun exposure may be the best way to get your vitamin D, because being in nature offers other benefits, too, including improved mood and blood pressure. But since that's not always possible, make sure you're including foods that contain vitamin D, like fortified milk (cow's or plant-based), whole eggs (the vitamin D is in the yolk), trout, salmon, sardines and mushrooms grown with UV light. And yes, this is pretty much an exhaustive list of foods with vitamin D, which is another reason it's so easy to have insufficient levels of it. Regarding heart disease prevention, vitamin D is a tiny piece of the puzzle. Other nutrients, like omega-3s, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals also play a role. Then there's physical activity, managing stress and getting enough quality sleep. The good news is that these health habits are connected. For example, when you get enough physical activity, you may also help reduce stress and sleep better. And you'll likely want nutritious foods to fuel your efforts. So don't let the list stress you out—just take things one step at a time. Related: 8 Conditions When You Might Need a Vitamin D Supplement, According to Health Experts This study suggests that due to deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D, many people may benefit from supplementing with vitamin D, which in turn may reduce the risk of heart disease. Regularly getting outdoors and including foods that contain vitamin D is a good way to ensure your levels are sufficient. It can also be helpful to work with a registered dietitian, who can help you incorporate these foods into your diet. It's interesting to note that this recommendation is contrary to what the Endocrine Society recommends regarding vitamin D. But if you know you don't spend enough time outdoors, aren't eating foods with vitamin D, live in a climate with temperatures that don't allow enough skin exposure to sunlight, or you have any symptoms of vitamin D deficiency—including depression, weak bones and high blood pressure—you may want to get your levels checked. And ultimately, other than the prick of the needle, it can't hurt to just have the blood test done so you know your levels. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Medscape
08-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Even ‘Weekend Warriors' Can Reduce GI Disease Risk
SAN DIEGO — The session started with a question that many in the audience at a May 4 session of Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025 seemed to relate to: 'How many of you find yourself squeezing workouts into a weekend after a hectic work week?' Although regular exercise three or more times a week is often viewed as preferable, Shiyi Yu, MD, a resident physician in the Department of Gastroenterology at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital in Guangzhou, China, had good news for weekend warriors. Both patterns reduce digestive disease almost equally. Her study compared weekend warriors with those she called 'active regulars' and sedentary folks to see how activity patterns affect digestive disease risks. Her bottom line: 'Your gut does not care about your schedule.' The researchers analyzed wrist-based accelerometer data from 89,595 participants in the UK Biobank. To categorize participants as active or inactive, they used the World Health Organization 2020 guidelines for physical activity, which recommend at least 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or at least 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination throughout the week. Median age of participants was 63.3 years and 48.8% were men. They divided participants into three groups: About 43% were weekend warriors who met or exceeded 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), with 50% or more of total MVPA achieved in 1-2 days. About 23% were active regulars who met or exceeded 150 minutes a week but spread over more days. About 34% were inactive participants who were active less than 150 minutes a week. The researchers followed the participants for a median of 7.9 years, looking for the incidence of multiple digestive diseases, identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, codes. These included diverticulosis, constipation, metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease, cholelithiasis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Both activity patterns 'showed similar risk reduction with no significant difference,' Yu said. At the threshold ≥ 150 minutes, for instance, hazard ratios for any digestive disease were 0.83 for weekend warriors and 0.79 for active regulars, compared with sedentary participants. The analysis was repeated using a median threshold ≥ 230.4 minutes of MVPA a week, and the researchers found the same results. As a validation cohort, the researchers used more than 6,000 participants from the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program with over 6 months of wrist-based accelerometer data. A recent meta-epidemiology study found that the weekend warrior pattern offers other health benefits, including reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease mortality, mental disorders, and metabolic syndrome. A Pleasant Surprise The digestive disease study's findings were 'a surprise and a pleasant one,' said Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and a gastroenterologist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City. 'We often think if we're not able to exercise regularly, then there's no hope for us,' said Shaukat, who moderated the session. 'But this implies that even if we have time only during the weekend to engage in physical activity, it still confers benefits in reducing our risk of any GI health disorder, as well as cardiovascular or other health disorders, compared to people inactive at baseline.' 'It gives us flexibility in terms of how we structure our exercise. Obviously, people should try to get into the habit of doing regular activity; it's more sustainable. But a good alternative, according to this research, is that packing all of that in over the weekend seems to confer benefit. So all is not lost.' Will this change her conversation with patients moving forward? Absolutely, Shaukat said. She generally recommends physical activity for at least 30 minutes three times a week. Now Shaukat said she can tell patients: 'If that's not possible, take that time out during the weekend for your health'.
Irish Independent
29-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Drinking Champagne can cut risk of cardiac arrest
Experts suggested that thousands of cardiac arrests – where the heart suddenly stops beating – could be prevented by tackling health and lifestyle issues. They found that a higher consumption of Champagne or white wine, more fruit, maintaining a positive mood, staying a healthy weight and keeping blood pressure under control seemed to protect against a cardiac arrest. People who were more educated also seemed less prone to cardiac arrest, the study, published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, suggested, while poor sleep patterns and a lack of exercise could be detrimental. A cardiac arrest is an emergency medical situation that usually happens without warning. People suddenly collapse and are unconscious, and are not breathing or not breathing normally. Without immediate treatment, people die. UK figures suggest there are about 30,000 cardiac arrests a year outside of hospital where emergency medical services attempt to resuscitate a person who has collapsed and stopped breathing normally. The latest study identified 56 risk factors associated with sudden cardiac arrest and found up to 63pc of cases might be avoidable. 'As expected, lifestyles account for the most burden,' the researchers said, adding: 'Public awareness campaigns should be further encouraged to promote lifestyle interventions.' The study looked at 502,094 middle-to-older aged people included in the UK Biobank of data. Of these, 3,147 people suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a typical follow-up period of 13.8 years.
