How to reduce risk of polyps in intestines?

Polyps in the intestines can be a serious danger: some of them can degenerate into cancerous tumors over time. A study published in the British Journal of Cancer showed how to reduce the risk of polyps in the intestines.

According to the authors of the study, regular physical activity is useful not only for health in general, but also helps prevent the appearance of polyps in the intestines.

The specialists studied the data obtained during the large-scale study Nurses’ Health Study II with the participation of 28,250 women of different ages who underwent sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Scientists correlated the results of these procedures with the diseases diagnosed by the project participants, as well as with their bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol, unhealthy diet), physical activity, pregnancy and other lifestyle factors.

The study showed that the risk of polyps in the intestine correlates with physical activity: in women who were generally physically active, and also engaged in physical education or sports both in childhood and in adulthood - from 12 years old to at least 64 years old - risk polyps decreased most significantly - by as much as 24%.

In women who played sports at least an hour a day from 12 to 22 years old, the similar risk was reduced by 7%. Women who are physically active between the ages of 23 and 64 years, by 9%.