The risk of breast cancer is a result of multiple factors. However, studies have shown that women over the age of 50 are more susceptible to this risk. A risk factor can be anything that increases your chances of developing breast cancer. This article will talk about the most common risk factors and prevention tips of breast cancer to help you learn more about this condition. 

Risks
While most risk factors contributing to breast cancer are beyond your control, there are some that you can keep in check to lower its possibility. Some of these are listed below.

• Weight
  After menopause, your ovaries stop producing estrogen. As a result, the body draws this hormone from the fat tissue. But when the fat tissue in your body is higher, estrogen levels can increase and magnify the risk of breast cancer. This is the reason post-menopausal women who are obese or overweight face a greater risk. 

• Alcohol
  Since alcohol limits your liver’s ability to control blood levels of estrogen, women who consume alcohol become more sensitive to developing breast cancer as compared to those who don’t drink at all. 

• Reproduction after 30 
  Women who have their first pregnancy after 30 years of age, do not breastfeed their child, or never had a full-term pregnancy are at risk of breast.
• Sedentary lifestyle
  Women who do not follow a physically active lifestyle have a higher possibility of developing breast cancer. 

Prevention
If you want to reduce or eliminate the risk of breast cancer, then you are recommended to make the following lifestyle changes,

• Limit your consumption of alcohol
  Research suggests that for women to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, they must avoid  alcohol consumption.

• Quit smoking
  Studies suggest a link between smoking and an increased risk of breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women. 

• Keep your weight in check
  Being overweight or obese not only increases your cancer risk but also exposes you to several other life-threatening diseases. This is especially true if the obesity occurs after menopause. Therefore, you must follow a healthy lifestyle and keep your body weight in check. 

• Exercise regularly
  Physical activity can not only help you maintain a healthy body weight but reduce the risk of breast cancer as well. Most adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of intense activity every week combined with strength training at least two times a week. 

Apart from all the above-mentioned risk factors and prevention tips for breast cancer, you can also formulate a robust plan with consultation from your doctor to help you lower the risk and circumvent the disease.