US research finds that adequate sleep helps women fight cancer
August 30 10:07:02, 2025
Cancer remains one of the most serious diseases threatening human health. Many people turn to healthy lifestyle choices, such as a balanced diet and regular physical activity, to lower their cancer risk. A recent study conducted by the National Cancer Institute has revealed that combining proper exercise with sufficient sleep can significantly reduce the risk of certain cancers in women.
Exercise has long been recognized as a powerful tool in the fight against cancer. The National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, recently carried out a study involving 5,968 women from Maryland. The participants, aged between 18 and 65, had no prior history of cancer. Over half of them exercised regularly each week.
Over a 10-year follow-up period, researchers discovered that both physical activity and sleep play crucial roles in cancer risk. If a person sleeps less than seven hours per night, the protective effects of exercise are largely canceled out, and the risk of cancer actually increases.
The link between poor sleep and higher cancer rates is still being explored. However, experts agree that adequate sleep is essential for overall well-being. At the 7th International Conference on Cancer Prevention Research, Dr. McLean from the National Cancer Institute presented findings showing that individuals who sleep less than seven hours a night have a 47% higher cancer risk compared to those who get enough rest.
McLean explained, “Through observation, we found that lack of sleep appears to negatively affect the benefits of physical activity, which is why we’re investigating how sleep duration interacts with exercise and cancer risk.â€
Sleep deprivation is not only linked to increased cancer risk but also to a range of other health issues, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and mental health problems like depression. Despite the wealth of research on sleep’s impact on general health, studies specifically examining its connection to cancer are still limited.
This new study highlights the importance of understanding how sleep and physical activity interact in cancer prevention. Researchers hope these insights will lead to better strategies for reducing cancer risk through healthier lifestyles. McLean emphasized that further research is needed to uncover the mechanisms behind these relationships and to develop more effective preventive measures.