Intense physical exercises have been recently linked to reduced risks of cancer, as scientists proved that more workouts better prepare the body in fighting off cell mutations, which cause the devastating disease. But the newest researches also show that, among those who practice a lot of sports, sleep also plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of cancer. This is especially true for women who are at risk of developing breast cancer, either because they have other medical conditions that may trigger this affliction or because they are genetically predisposed to developing it.

 

"We think it's quite interesting and intriguing. It's kind of a first look into this. It isn't something that has been widely studied," said James McClain, from the National Cancer Institute, which is a part of the U.S. government's National Institutes of Health (NIH). "Getting adequate sleep has been long associated with health."

 

Normally, adults have to sleep for about 7-8 hours per night, in order for their bodies to recharge their batteries for the new day. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) constantly draw attention to the fact that sleep deprivation is one of America's biggest health risks, seeing how polls show that more and more people get less than 6 hours of sleep per night. And the reduction trend is increasing since the mid 1980s.

 

There are several medical conditions that are known to influence the amount of sleep the average person gets each night. Among those, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, cigarette smoking and excessive drinking are the most important, and they are thought to be the main reasons why people can't get sufficient slumber after a hard day's work.

 

McClain said the intense physical exercises, associated with 8 hours of sleep per night, may help avert the 47 percent chances of women getting breast or colon cancer. Other forms of the disease can also be averted, if people maintain a healthy life style.