By Katherine Keys
Exercise offers many benefits for anyone's health, and those benefits are especially powerful for someone with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells that line body cavities, especially in the lungs, and the most common cause of this cancer is from asbestos exposure. Strength training and moderate work-outs can offer incredible value to the body and psyche of someone dealing with this type of cancer.
More Energy and Less Fatigue
When someone has cancer, both the illness itself and the treatments to fight it can produce tremendous fatigue. Moderate physical activity with a physician's approval can help to combat that by increasing energy levels by at least 40 percent. Regular physical activity can also promote restful sleep, which aids body tissues in their work of repair and restoration.
Improved Mood and Mental Faculties
Frequent physical activity is one of the most reliable ways to help improve someone's mood and outlook on life. According to the American Psychological Association, the effects of working out can be powerful to improve mental health since it seems to increase the brain's production of serotonin, which elevates mood. It also can help with mental clarity and focus. Additionally, it may improve one's outlook on life by giving someone a sense of purpose and accomplishment. When dealing with cancer specifically, there may be many things beyond patients' control, and taking care of their bodies gives them something tangible that they can do to impact their health in a positive way.
Better Appetite and Reduced Nausea
For cancer patients, eating enough can be a struggle between the ravages of illness and the waves of nausea that can accompany cancer treatments. Moderate physical activity can stimulate the appetite as blood sugar is used up by the muscles during a work out, so a patient usually finds the desire to eat. Chemotherapy is notorious for causing nausea, and regular activity can decrease these side effects and allow someone to enjoy a meal again.
Longer Life Expectancy
Cancer patients who work out may have found a source for the fountain of youth. Multiple studies have shown longer life expectancy in patients who work out regularly after being diagnosed with cancer. Even going for a walk before a chemotherapy treatment can be helpful as it stimulates improved circulation, which in turn could help to carry the treatment more effectively into the diseased cells.
Healthy Stress Response
Cancer patients who work out regularly are usually better able to handle stress, which can help them navigate the challenges of their condition. Research suggests that physical conditioning increases the brain's amount of norepinephrine, and the mind uses this neurotransmitter to mitigate the effects of stress. It has also been proposed that putting the body through the work of strength training can help it to practice its ability to respond well under stress.
Exercise can significantly improve the life of someone who has mesothelioma. Check out this article for more benefits of strength training and working out in patients with this type of cancer. Always be sure to check with a physician before starting a new physical activity program.
No comments:
Post a Comment