David Conen, M.D., of the University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland, has made a fascinating discovery. He has found an association between women with a common heart rhythm abnormality called atrial fibrillation and cancer risk, particularly of the colon. Although Dr. Conen cannot say definitively that atrial fibrillation causes cancer, he can say with confidence that there is a relationship between the heart condition and cancer.
Dr. Conen and his research team followed 35,000 healthy women age 45 and older who took part in the Women’s Health Study. Over a period of 20 years, individuals who developed atrial fibrillation had a 60 percent increased risk of cancer diagnosis. During the follow-up period, 4 percent of the participants developed atrial fibrillation and about 15 percent were diagnosed with cancer.
The research team was looking specifically for connections between atrial fibrillation and the development of lung, breast and colon cancer. The strongest connection they found was between atrial fibrillation and colon cancer.
While there may not be any real connection between a heart rhythm abnormality and cancer, the two conditions share common risk factors, such as a sedentary lifestyle, a high fat diet, obesity, and smoking. Even though the study only followed women, Conen believes that men who make unhealthy lifestyle choices probably have similar risk.
When asked how to reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation and cancer, Conen advised that women should lose weight, quit smoking and exercise. “If you reduce risk factors, you are also going to reduce cancer risk,” he concluded (Source: Health Day).
Interestingly, three of the most common risk factors for colon cancer are obesity, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle. If you would like to learn more about lifestyle changes that you can make to prevent colon cancer, please read more on our Preventing Colon Cancer page. Along with making healthy choices, the best way to prevent colon cancer is to schedule regular colonoscopies.