Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
01 September 2014 09:53
Walking just one mile a day could help keep cancer at bay, according to Walking for Health
Walking for less than half an hour a day could have a highly positive impact on cancer patients' survival chances, according to new research.
Figures released by Walking for Health suggest that breast cancer patients who walk one mile a day at moderate speed - around 3mph - could lower their risk of dying from the disease by as much as 40%, compared to those who don't.
Similarly, prostate cancer patients can reduce their risk of death by 30%, according to the organisation which is run by the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support.
People could go for a walk in their local park or walk to the nearest supermarket and back, or they might even want to go on a walking holiday - but are always advised to take out travel insurance for cancer patients before setting off.
Walking for Health based its findings on the Chief Medical Officer's recommendation to get at least two-and-a-half hours of moderate exercise per week. People who choose to walk are being asked to do "brisk" walking - around 3mph or more.
Macmillan said regular physical activity can help with typical side effects experienced by cancer patients, such as anxiety, fatigue or depression, but also swellings, weight problems and limited mobility.
They warned that around four in five of the two million people in the UK who are living with cancer are not currently getting the recommended levels of exercise - despite the wide range of potential health benefits.
Macmillan Cancer Support chief executive Ciaran Devane described physical activity as a "wonder drug" and urged doctors to prescribe exercise as a "standard part of cancer recovery".
Benedict Southworth, chief executive of the Ramblers, said there are many benefits associated with walking, and even short walks can "make the world of difference" for people diagnosed with cancer or other serious health issues.
19 April 2018
A self-injected smart drug may be the key to easing and preventing pain for migraine sufferers.
[more...]
17 April 2018
Despite its reputation as a party drug, ketamine is licensed as an anaesthetic. A recent US study found use of the drug via a nasal spray led to "significant" improvements in depressive symptoms in the first 24 hours.
Simple brain-training exercises carried out at home have been shown to reduce emotional stress in female breast cancer survivors, it's recently been revealed.
13 April 2018
Drinkers who consume more alcohol than UK guidelines suggest could be cutting years off their lives, according to new research.
12 April 2018
A recent study has revealed that people who sustain brain injuries are at an increased risk of developing dementia later in life.
11 April 2018
Scientists have announced their latest breakthrough in the battle against Alzheimer's disease, after neutralising a high-risk gene in a human brain cell for the first time.
07 April 2018
The Philippines is set to shut its most famous holiday island of Boracay for six months, after the President described it as a "cesspool".
05 April 2018
Taxes on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco - nicknamed "sin taxes" - could be a powerful step towards combating rising rates of chronic diseases worldwide, research has suggested.
New "one-stop shops" to speed up cancer diagnosis are being trialled across the country for the first time.
30 March 2018
Doctors should tell patients that e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking but not without risk, according to new national guidance.
29 March 2018
Young people suffering from mental health problems are finding it hard to get the support they need, a survey has revealed.
28 March 2018
Children exposed to epilepsy drugs in the womb may achieve poorer test results at school, a study has suggested.