Tips to Reduce Your Chances of Developing Cancer

Introduction

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world today. There are many different risk factors that may be beyond our control, such as our genetics, and many environmental factors.

However, there are many other factors that we have total control of, that if we limit our exposure to can make a significant difference on how likely we are to develop cancer.

Top 5 Ways to Reduce Your Chances of Developing Cancer

If you’re looking for ways that you can significantly lower your risk of cancer, then look no further than these.

1. Check Ingredients

Whether you’re reading the ingredient list of your favorite chocolate bar, or the cream that you put on your body, understanding the ingredients of what you’re exposed to is critical. Nowadays, plastic is prominent, and so are plenty of toxic ingredients that go into our daily lives.

It’s important that you understand these toxins and avoid ingesting them or exposing yourself to them. The more exposed you are the more likely you are to develop cancer.

2. Exercise

Research shows that one of the best things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer is staying active for at least 30 minutes a day. Whether it’s walking, cycling, or even swimming, moving your body more means less chance of developing cancer. By engaging in regular physical activity you’ll maintain a healthy weight and your body will be less susceptible not only to cancer but other obesity related diseases.

3. Don’t Smoke

At this point hopefully you know that smoking is not good for your health. Quitting smoking can reduce your chances of developing cancer by as much as 60%. The great news is that it’s never too late to quit.  Even if you still smoke, quitting now can still make a difference in how likely you are to develop cancer.  Nowadays, there are all sorts of resources available to the public to help battle smoking addiction— all it takes is making the first step.

4. Wear Sunblock

Although the sun has many positive impacts on our bodies, too much exposure to the sun can significantly increase our chances of getting cancer. Wear sunblock every single day even on cloudy days.  Beyond reducing your chances of developing skin cancer you can also preserve the elasticity of your skin. The more that we expose ourselves to the sun, the more we develop wrinkles and look older than we are.  So if not for the sake of cancer, consider wearing sunblock minimally for vanity.

5. Attend Screenings

One of your best defenses against developing cancer is attending screenings as often as possible. The earlier you can catch cancer, the more likelier chances are of defeating it.  Whether it’s getting mammograms, or visiting your dermatologist for a skin screening, prevention is the best defense. There are also government schemes such as the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program that you can take advantage of.

The Takeaway

Cancer prevention is an essential aspect of overall health and well-being. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent cancer, certain lifestyle changes and behaviors can reduce your risk. First and foremost, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can significantly reduce your risk. This means ditching the smokes, exercising on the regular, avoiding direct sunlight without sunscreen, and watching what you eat.

About Theresa Duncan

Originally from Detroit, MI, Theresa has been offering health and fitness advice for the last 30 years while working as an engineer. She decided to turn her passion into a profession, and finds nothing more satisfying than helping others reach their health and fitness goals.