Exercise and the Cancer Patient
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In the past, people with chronic illnesses like cancer were often advised to rest and avoid physical activity. Today, many cancer patients use exercise as part of their total treatment plan. Exercise benefits cancer patients in the following ways:
- Improves their quality of life.
- Increases lean muscle mass and maintains strength.
- Reduces fat gain.
- Promotes overall better physical functioning which provides resilience to cancer.
- Improves self esteem, depression and anxiety.
- Instills a sense of accomplishment.
- Reduces risk of other chronic ailments by making the various physiological sytems more resilient.
- Increases circulation throughout the body.
- Lessens stress, depression and anxiety which are all common cancer traits.
- Improves the immune system which can result in improvement of the cancerous condition.
Many studies have shown that exercise reduces many of the unpleasant side effects of both cancer and chemotherapy. Cancer patients who exercise regularly report decreased nausea and fatigue as well as an increased tolerance for normal activity and overall quality of life.
In addition to the physical improvements, cancer patients also benefit emotionally. Exercise improves symptoms of depression, confusion and anxiety. Other mental and emotional benefits include an increased sense of accomplishment, feeling more independent and experiencing a higher self esteem.
Exercise exerts it's mental effects by altering key brain neurotransmitters which make us feel better, less anxious and less depressed. One kind of these neurotransmitters, called endorphins, also acts as a natural pain killer which can help cancer patients who experience pain .
Cancer is an immune system disorder and moderate exercise has been shown to boost the immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells and killer T cells. It also induces favorable hormonal changes which lower stress hormones, like cortisol, and promote healing.
Cancer is no different than other chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease when it comes to the necessity of exercise. Most experts are now recommending a low intensity/ moderate duration program and then slowly building up the intensity rather than the time. It's important to try several activities until you find one you reaaly like. Cancer patients have many physical and emotional ups and downs. If you are having a bad day the last thing you'll want to do is perform some form of activity you don't like.
Physical activity can truly benefit the physiological and psychological conditions of cancer patients. It can actually improve the cancer itself. Exercise improves overall health, enhances the immune system, helps gain muscle and and lose fat, and keeps emotional spirits up. Simple moderate exercise programs are now becoming common place as a part of many cancer treatment programs.
About the Author
Dr. Lanny Schaffer is an Exercise Physiologist and the President of The International Fitness Academy. For more cutting edge fitness information go to http://www.aerobics-exercise-caoch.com
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