- Freepik
VIVA – Cancer is a chronic disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of trillions of cells.
Several factors such as old age, personal or family history of cancer, smoking, alcohol consumption, and exposure to radiation rays can increase a person's chances of developing cancer. However, according to recent research, it turns out that our height can also determine how susceptible we are to cancer.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, your height can determine your risk of cancer. The research team looked at global evidence on the relationship between diet, weight, physical activity, and cancer.
It was found that the taller you are the more at risk you are of ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, colorectal, breast, and kidney cancer. The study concluded that every extra five centimeters in height can put you at risk of certain cancers along with specificities.
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- U-Report
Why the height influences your risk of cancer
Susannah Brown, science programmer manager for World Cancer Research International, explains why someone’s height affects their risk of cancer, “The most important thing to remember is that it is not a person’s itself, the distance from your head to your feet that increases your risk. Instead, it is the process that your body has undergone to make you tall that’s linked to cancer,”
According to her, in other words, a person’s final adult height is a visual representation of the growth process that someone’s body has undergone from conception through to adulthood.
“This process is influenced not only by their genes, but also by modifiable developmental factors (eg. growth factors such as insulin, insulin-like growth factor, growth hormone, and sex hormones such as estrogens) in the womb, and during childhood and adolescence.” She stated.
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"Thus, height should be considered only as a marker or indicator of the whole set of events and experiences from conception to adulthood, and identifying which aspect of this process influence cancer risk is important," she added.
Being tall is not a curse but a gift as it can prevent chronic diseases including diabetes, stroke, and heart attack. Also, there is nothing you can do about it, as the height cannot be changed.
However, if you want to reduce your risk of cancer, there are certain steps you can take, including healthy food consumption and being physically active. Moreover, according to the Mayo Clinic, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol, and getting regular check-ups, can reduce your risk of cancer.
