A study from a leading Swedish sports science institution explored how higher cardiorespiratory fitness relates to prostate cancer risk. The findings appeared in a major medical journal, shedding light on the potential protective role of sustained fitness against this common cancer.
Involving 57,652 men, the study gathered detailed information about participants’ physical activity, lifestyles, health histories, and body measurements. Each subject also completed two cardiorespiratory assessments performed on an exercise bike to gauge fitness under controlled conditions.
Cardiorespiratory testing analyzes how the body handles gas exchange during exercise. This method provides a comprehensive, objective view of how multiple bodily systems respond to stress and helps identify why physical performance may decline in the presence of health issues. The trials occurred yearly, with an average follow-up period stretching over seven years.
Over the course of the study, 592 participants developed prostate cancer. Analysts found that each annual 1 percent uptick in cardiorespiratory fitness correlated with roughly a 2 percent drop in cancer risk. Moreover, men whose fitness improved by 3 percent or more each year were about 35 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer compared with those whose fitness declined.
The researchers advised regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle as practical steps to raise fitness levels and help lower prostate cancer risk. The findings underscore the potential benefits of maintaining an active routine for long-term health and cancer prevention.
It is important to note that prostate cancer can vary in severity and treatment needs. A growing body of evidence supports lifestyle factors as contributors to risk modification, complementing medical screening and personalized care.
Overall, the message is clear: staying physically active and keeping a balanced lifestyle may support lower risk of prostate cancer for many men, alongside routine medical checkups and informed discussions with healthcare providers. [Source attribution: British Journal of Sports Medicine study on cardiorespiratory fitness and prostate cancer risk]