P90X

Friday, January 20, 2012

Motivation for Cancer Patients

Here is an article from a guest blogger Liz Davis. Thanks for the great article Liz!

A panel conducted by the "American College of Sports Medicine" found that that exercise and proper nutrition during cancer treatment and afterwards decreases cancer symptoms, increases chances of survival and decreases remission rates.

  What symptoms of cancer can nutrition and exercise help? Fatigue is one of the main symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment as is depression and hopelessness. Pain in the body is another serious symptom of cancer. Exercise helps relieve all of these symptoms in many different ways.

It treats fatigue by increasing metabolism and processing energy more fully. This fully energized state eliminates fatigue in no time. Exercise also releases endorphins in the body that are designed to make the body feel better mentally and physically.

  Losing weight is vital to helping lessen the chances of remission. Studies have shown that inactive, overweight patients were much more highly likely to suffer from remission or lose their fight to cancer. Proper exercise and nutrition can help shed those extra pounds.

The types of exercises and the severity should be decided upon by you and your doctor to avoid over straining your body. Aerobic exercise like walking and bicycling are low impact enough for a cancer patient. Strength exercises such as lifting weights are also important but should be carefully monitored as chemotherapy can eliminate bone density very quickly. Balance exercises are also important to help keep your workout free of accidents. Exercises such as heel raises or walking a straight line are all you need. Stretching exercises can help eliminate pain by relieving strain in the body and eliminating tension and tightness in the muscles. These exercises should be discussed with a doctor to make sure the patient is capable of performing them.

  Proper nutrition for a cancer patient depends on its severity. Patients with a compromised immune system should avoid foods that make them sick. Basically, a great diet for a cancer patient includes a balanced diet with a heavy focus on protein. Foods such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, eggs and pudding are also great sources of protein. However, you should avoid high fat foods to avoid gaining weight.

  Use proper nutrition and dieting to help treat many of the symptoms of cancer. This is true for people battling all types of cancers. Different methods will help different people, for example mesothelioma and lung cancer causes people to focus more on increasing lung capacity whereas people with breast cancer might want to focus on flexibility through yoga. It is important to talk to a specialist about the right fitness regimen. Diet and exercise are never a complete cure or treatment option. Instead, they work as a method of battling cancer and feeling better during your treatments and your disease.

Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives because she sees how cancer has devastated so many people in this world. Liz also likes running, playing lacrosse, reading and playing with her dog, April.

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