High Cholesterol & Breast Cancer: Are They Linked?

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High cholesterol is always a culprit for many health issues. Now, a new finding is also added to the list of risks of high cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to growth and spread of breast cancer, says a report of IANS.

According to the members of Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke, a byproduct of cholesterol functions like the hormone estrogen to fuel the growth and spread of breast cancer in women.

"A lot of studies have shown a connection between obesity and breast cancer, and specifically that elevated cholesterol is associated with breast cancer risk, but no mechanism has been identified," said senior author Donald McDonnell, Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke.

He also said, "What we have now found is a molecule - not cholesterol itself, but an abundant metabolite of cholesterol - called 27HC that mimics the hormone estrogen and can independently drive the growth of breast cancer," added McDonnell.

It is also said that there is a strong link between high cholesterol and breast cancer in women, especially in post-menopausal women, reports femalefirst.co.uk. The hormone estrogen feeds an estimated 75 percent of all breast cancers in women.

Here are some common reasons which contribute to high cholesterol. Knowing this will help you control your cholesterol and thereby preventing risks of high cholesterol and breast cancer in women.

Diet

Your diet is an important factor that contributes to the risks of high cholesterol. Eating too much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol will definitely contribute to a high amount of cholesterol in your body. Include more veggies and fruits in your diet and make it well-balanced.

Obesity

It is proved that obesity is the most common factor that causes high cholesterol and thereby increase risk of breast cancer in women. Reduce your weight and bring it to a normal body mass index. This itself will contribute a lot to reduce your cholesterol level.

Junk foods

Now a days, junk foods are becoming very common even among children. Junk foods may satisfy your taste buds, but it doesn't have anything good for your body. It is better to avoid canned processed food, so that you can reduce the risks of high cholesterol and prevent breast cancer in women.

Genetics

In many cases your hereditary is the main reason for the risks of high cholesterol and breast cancer in women. In this case, you cannot do anything else other than concentrating more on your diet and lifestyle to bring the cholesterol levels in normal range.

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle is all about your life and living. Design your lifestyle in such a way that it is healthy for both your mind and body. Focus on your food habits, physical activities and routine health checkups. Follow a healthy lifestyle, so that you can control the risks of high cholesterol and prevent breast cancer in women.

Lack of exercise

Lack of physical activity is another major reason for the increased incidence of risks of high cholesterol. Increased cholesterol will eventually lead to breast cancer in women, especially if you have a predisposition factor for it.

Habits

Your habits also have direct impact in increasing the risks of high cholesterol. Smoking increases LDL cholesterol, which is notorious as ‘bad cholesterol.' Increased alcohol consumption will also cause an increase in LDL cholesterol and decrease in HDL cholesterol. Be clean in your habits and reduce the risks of high cholesterol.