Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Power of Fitness

The following is a guest post by David Haas, staff writer for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog. I hope you enjoy it and gain useful insights. Although his comments are geared primarily to cancer patients and survivors, his insights, especially on mood, energy, and mental health are useful to all of us. And, if being healthy reduces the risk of cancer, I'm all for that, too. As a cancer survivor myself, I'm especially pleased to present this for my readers.

 
The Power of Fitness

Regular exercise and attention to diet can increase the overall health of a person dramatically. Regular fitness can also provide many benefits to a cancer patient. Before beginning your exercise regimen, consult your oncology doctor to ensure that it is safe.

Disease

According to the Mayo Clinic, regular fitness can help prevent and manage some diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, depression and some forms of cancer.
Fitness can also help even if you have already been diagnosed with cancer, such as breast cancer or mesothelioma. Doctor Matthew Hoffman from WebMD support this research. He states that, although not a cure for cancer, regular fitness can lower the risk for remission and increase the length of survival after a cancer diagnosis.

Mood

It is hard to stay positive when you have just been told you have a life threatening illness. Regular fitness increases the activity of endorphins, which causes you to feel happier and more relaxed. Fitness also makes a person feel proud that they are attending to their body and may raise your confidence level.

Energy

Although it may be difficult to exert extra energy to exercise while struggling with cancer, doing so will actually give you more energy. In addition, exercise will provide you with more strength to get through difficult treatment and procedures. Fitness can also help decrease the common fatigue that accompanies cancer and cancer treatment.

Weight Control

Exercising on a regular basis can help you to attain and maintain a healthy weight by burning calories. Cancer patients who are overweight after receiving cancer treatments survived for fewer years and had a higher probability of remission.

Mental Health

Having fitness in your life can help with your mental health as well. Fitness combats the negativity that often comes after a cancer diagnosis. It can also combat more serious bouts of depression. Fitness can also help relieve stress and feelings of anxiousness.

How Much Exercise?

Cancer patients and cancer survivors can often complete the same amount of exercise as the general population. This consists of exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day. Cancer patients should complete this exercise regimen at least five days a week.

Fitness plays a vital role in developing a healthy lifestyle for cancer patients and survivors. It provides many benefits, including weight loss, mental health advantages, mood enhancement, and increased levels of energy. Most importantly, it can help to prevent the recurrence of cancer.

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