80% of cancers caused by lifestyle choices

MANILA, Philippines - Everyone can reduce their risk of developing cancer by making the proper lifestyle choices and keeping track of what is important in a person’s life. While known factors, such as family history and environmental conditions, are beyond one’s control, it is estimated that 80 percent of all cancer types could be prevented through diet, exercise and other healthy lifestyle choices.

This was the statement of the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) to start its year-long campaign for cancer prevention and early detection with the culmination of the celebration of National Cancer Consciousness Week from Jan. 13-18, 2014 through Presidential Proclamation 1348, s. 1975. The law directs the PCS and the Department of Health (DOH) to lead government agencies and the private sector in activities that will raise public awareness on cancer.

The PCS challenges Filipinos to take a closer look at their personal habits:

• Do you eat breakfast every day?
• Do you exercise at least three times a day?
• Do you smoke?
• Do you drink more than ten glasses of alcohol a week?
• Do you find time to relax?
• Do you have fish, vegetables and fruits in your daily meals?
• Do you sleep at least 8 hours a day?
• Do you react immediately to sudden weight gain or loss?

The importance of eating breakfast. People who do not eat breakfast do not perform as well physically or mentally as those who do. People who skip breakfast do not catch up nutritionally later in the day and if trying to lose weight, find it harder as they are more likely to snack.

Get moving. Benefits of regular physical activity include reduced blood pressure, improved heart health and less like of getting overweight. Physical activities burn excess fats in the body so it is essential if a person wants to maintain a healthy weight. Forty-five minutes or more of moderate to vigorous activity five days a week may further reduce the risk of breast or colon cancer.

Keep away from bad vices. Smoking increases a person’s risk to develop many diseases and affects the health of those around him or her. This is the leading cause of heart disease, lung cancer and a significant risk factor for diabetes. People who drink alcohol should limit their intake to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink for women, because of their smaller body size and slower metabolism of alcohol. An alcoholic drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.

Keep a healthy weight. Being overweight affects your health in many ways including a strain on your joints and more likely to have diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. A person’s calorie intake must be balanced by the amount of exercise. Being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer: breast , colon, cervical, esophageal, pancreatic and kidney.

Respecting Rest. Most adults need an average of eight to a minimum of four hours of sleep a night. Still, if individuals feel groggy or drowsy during the day, they may need more and better sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation can increase a person’s risk for serious problems such as heart attack, stroke or injury.

Now that Filipinos have a clearer idea of how they can live their lives healthy. It’s about time they take the opportunity to gear towards a more fruitful future. By following the guidelines set by PCS, Filipinos can look forward to better lives with less threat of The Big C.