Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/510259
Other research has shown: • Exercising moderately for six hours a week may reduce colorectal cancer mortality and disease recurrence by about 50 percent. • Three hours per week of moderate-intensity physical activity may lower risk of prostate cancer mortality by about 30 percent, and lower the rate of disease progression by 57 percent. Exercise Lessens Symptoms, Improve Quality of Life Aside from helping you to survive cancer, exercise will also help to lessen your symptoms and generally improve how you feel, which means you'll be able to get back to your normal life more quickly. If you are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy as a form of treatment, this can be particularly debilitating. You may want to look into some of the natural cancer treatments available, which do not cause the serious, sometimes deadly, side effects associated with conventional cancer treatment, but either way, exercise is essential. The report from Macmillan Cancer Support noted that exercise can help you to mitigate some of the common side effects of conventional cancer treatment, including: Want to Help Prevent Cancer? Exercise! Exercise is a powerful anti-cancer strategy, and this is one of the reasons why I urge everyone reading this to get active, starting today. More than 200 population-based studies have linked exercise to your risk for cancer, including cancer of the breast, bowel, prostate, testes, endometrium and lung. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, which explored the relationship between exercise and cancer, exercise affects several biological functions that may influence your cancer risk. These effects include changes in: Reduce fatigue and improve your energy levels Manage stress, anxiety, low mood or depression Improve bone health Improve heart health (some chemotherapy drugs and radiotherapy can cause heart problems later in life) Build muscle strength, relieve pain and improve range of movement Maintain a healthy weight Sleep better Improve your appetite Prevent constipation Cardiovascular capacity Energy balance Pulmonary capacity Immune function Bowel motility Antioxidant defense Hormone levels DNA repair A 2009 study showed that men with stronger muscles from regular weight training are up to 40 percent less likely to die from cancer. These findings suggest that muscle strength is just as important as staying slim and eating healthy when it comes to offering protection against deadly tumors. Cancer thrives on sugar, but regular exercise reduces your insulin levels, which creates a low sugar environment that discourages the growth and spread of cancer cells. Controlling your insulin levels is one of the most powerful steps you can take to reduce your cancer risk and help keep it from returning. Special Considerations if You Have Cancer If you have cancer or any other chronic disease, you will need to tailor your exercise routine to your individual scenario, taking into account your stamina and current health. Often, you will be able to take part in a regular exercise program -- one that involves a variety of exercises like strength training, core-building, stretching, aerobic and anaerobic -- with very little changes necessary. However, you may find that you need to exercise at a lower intensity or for shorter durations at times. Always listen to your body and if you feel you need a break, take time to rest. Even exercising for a few minutes a day is better than not exercising at all, and you'll likely find that your stamina increases and you're able to complete more challenging workouts with each passing day. In the event you are suffering from a very weakened immune system, you may want to exercise in your home instead of visiting a public gym. But remember that exercise will ultimately help to boost your immune system, so it's very important to continue with your program. Abby's Magazine - May/June 2015 | Page 45