Health Net: Exercise is good for health, but if done to excess it can damage the body. In women, excessive exercise can increase the risk of premature menopause.
This is based on the results of a recent study conducted by researchers of Japan. Although not directly responsible, but a new study has become an important discovery to prevent cancer.
In this study, researchers studied more than 3,100 pre-menopausal women over 10 years. Women who do a lot of sports, at least 8 to 10 hours a week, 17 percent more likely to experience early menopause during the study period.
Menopause usually begins at age 41 there 55 years. During menopause, women's ovaries stop producing eggs and can not get pregnant, explained Dr. Margery Gass, director of the North American Menopause Society, as quoted by Reuters on Wednesday October 12, 2011.
In a study published in the journal Menopause, Dr. Chisato Nagata of Gifu University and colleagues gave questionnaires to women aged 35-56 years.
Over the next 10 years, almost 1,800 women experiencing menopause. Although it is unclear at what age it happened, but the findings suggest that highly active women have a higher chance to experience menopause earlier.
Physical activity and exercise can reduce estrogen levels. This is exercise done excessively can cause early menopause.
This happens because the active women (excessive exercise) are less exposed to high estrogen levels. The hormone estrogen promotes breast tumor and this may explain that why women who experience early menopause have a lower risk of developing breast cancer, explained Dr. Joann E. Manson, president of the North American Menopause Society.
But on the other hand, premature menopause has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease and bone thinning.
Based on several studies, women who experience early menopause before the age of 46 years had twice the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular disorders.
In addition to cardiovascular disease, premature menopause also causes other health problems, such as osteoporosis, ovarian and colon cancer, gum disease, tooth loss and cataracts.
This occurs because of a reduction in the natural supply of estrogen hormone that is too early, causing hormonal imbalances and organ function in the body and changes in overall health.
