Walking Briskly Improves Prostate Health

One of the more common concerns for men as they get older has to do with the health of their prostates.  With prostate cancer being by far the most common cancer in men in the United States, it makes sense to take as many preventative measures as possible to protect and support the prostate.  A new study published in Cancer Research has revealed that walking at a vigorous pace may dramatically improve prostate health.  Researcher Erin L. Richman, MD, of the Harvard School of Public Health, and colleagues studied 1,455 men with prostate cancer.  They found that those who walked briskly for at least three hours each week had a 57% reduced rate of cancer progression compared with men who walked only at a leisurely pace for under three hours each week.  The vigorous walkers also had a 61% reduction in death from prostate cancer.

The number of studies showing the benefits of exercise continues to grow every day.  Moving your body and getting your heart rate up regularly may protect you and/or your loved ones not only from prostate cancer, but from many other types of cancer.  Exercise is vitally important not only for the physical body, but also for the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health.  It can help relieve stress and anxiety as well as improve mood and outlook on life, all important factors that play a role in overall wellness and chronic disease prevention.    

Dr. Shana McQueen

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/05May/Pages/activity-brisk-walk-prostate-cancer.aspx