L'attività fisica è utile tanto quanto un potente farmaco.
A sottolinearlo sono gli esperti di Walking for Health, iniziativa
inglese mirata a promuovere uno stile di vita più attivo attraverso un
esercizio semplice e facilmente accessibile a tutti: il cammino.
Secondo gli ultimi calcoli, effettuati per Walking for Health dall'associazione
Macmillan Cancer Support e dall'organizzazione benefica britannica The
Ramblers, è sufficiente camminare per 1,6 km a una velocità di circa 5
km all'ora per ridurre del 40% il rischio che un cancro al seno possa
avere la meglio risultando fatale. In modo simile, per chi è affetto da
un tumore alla prostata questo tipo di attività fisica riduce del 30% il
rischio di morire a causa del cancro.
Le stime, basate sulle linee
guida della più importante voce in tema di salute nel governo britannico
– il Chief Medical Officer – secondo cui ogni settimana dovrebbero
essere praticati 150 minuti di attività fisica ad intensità moderata,
possono essere lette anche in un altro modo: per ridurre,
rispettivamente, del 40 e del 30% il rischio di morire a causa di un
cancro al seno o alla prostata chi ne soffre dovrebbe camminare ad una
velocità minima di 5 km all'ora per 20 minuti al giorno.
Come
ricorda Macmillan Cancer Support, questa scelta permette anche di
contrastare efficacemente effetti collaterali come la ritenzione idrica a
livello delle braccia che può colpire le donne affette da tumore al
seno e problemi come ansia, depressione, affaticamento, difficoltà
motorie e variazioni di peso.
“Non possiamo continuare a tenere gli
occhi chiusi di fronte a quella che si presenta come una soluzione molto
semplice e ovvia”, ha sottolineato Ciaran Devane, direttore esecutivo
di Macmillan Cancer Support, commentando le nuove stime. “E' sempre più
chiaro – ha aggiunto Benedict Southworth, direttore esecutivo di The
Ramblers – che camminare può fare la differenza per chi si sta
riprendendo o convive con un cancro o altri seri problemi di salute”.
Alla luce di questa consapevolezza secondo Devane l'esercizio fisico
dovrebbe essere prescritto come parte integrante del percorso verso la
guarigione dal cancro.
ENGLISH VERSION
Walking a mile each
day 'cuts cancer death risk by half': Physical activity described as
'wonder drug' for breast and prostate patients
Cancer patients can cut their risk of dying by up to half – simply by walking just one mile a day, according to experts.
A study revealed physical activity as a ‘wonder drug’, with those
diagnosed with breast and prostate cancers able to cut their risk of
death by up to 40 per cent.
And for bowel cancer patients, doubling the walking distance was found to halve the risk of dying.
The calculations are based on walking one mile at a moderate pace of 3mph, which would take just 20 minutes a day.
The research by Walking for Health, a network of walking groups run by
Macmillan Cancer Support and the Ramblers, found physical activity can
also reduce the impact of some debilitating side effects of cancer
treatment, such as swelling around the arm, anxiety, depression,
fatigue, impaired mobility and weight changes.
The charity
estimates that 1.6million of the two million people living with cancer
in the UK are not active at recommended levels.
Ciarán Devane,
chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: ‘Today’s research
highlights the very simple reality – walking can save lives.
‘We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to what is a very simple and
obvious solution. Physical activity is a wonder drug and health care
professionals must prescribe physical activity, such as walking, as a
standard part of cancer recovery.’
Sandra Sayce, 51, who is
married and lives in Middlesex, joined her local Walking for Health
group in 2011 following years of treatment for melanoma.
‘Since then I’ve gone from strength, and I’ve started to feel more happy
and less tired. I really do think that making the decision to go on
that first walk was crucial to getting myself to the position I’m in
now.’
It is unclear how activity helps, but the effect goes
further than simply weight control, which cuts down on the amount of
cancer-promoting hormones produced by body fat.
The latest thinking is exercise may break down oestrogen to produce ‘good’ metabolites that lower the risk of some cancers.
The reduction in risk of death from cancer is based on research review evidence in Macmillan Cancer Support’s Move More report.
It says breast cancer patients cut the risk by 40 per cent if they do
recommended levels of activity, compared with those doing less than an
hour a week.
The risk is reduced by 30 per cent for men with prostate cancer.
Bowel cancer sufferers who walk 18 miles a week – 2.5 miles or around
50 minutes a day – can cut their risk of dying by 50 per cent.
Walking for 150 minutes a week at 3mph results in total walking of 7.5 miles in a week – just over a mile, or 20 minutes a day.
Government guidelines advise all adults to do 150 minutes of moderate
activity such as gardening, dancing or brisk walking, or 75 minutes of
vigorous exercise including playing sport, running or aerobics every
week.
Just 36 per cent of British women meet the moderate activity target.
Benedict Southworth, chief executive of the Ramblers, said: ‘The
benefits of walking are numerous. It is increasingly clear that walking
even short distances regularly can make the world of difference for
those recovering from and managing cancer or other serious health
conditions.
‘Walking for Health offers free, short group walks
across England, which are the perfect way to build confidence and
fitness in a friendly, supportive space.
‘All walks are led by
friendly, knowledgeable people, specially trained for the job. Many of
our walkers have long term conditions such as cancer themselves and find
the companionship and fresh air a wonderful therapy.
‘We want
to put walking at the centre of efforts to tackle physical inactivity
and echo Macmillan’s call for health professionals to prescribe walking
to those who are recovering from cancer or other health conditions.’ |
