I blog because I want to share all aspects of the deeper meaning of what exercise can bring to one's life. The media and all the bling bling make exercise so superficial. Sure we all want to look good, but developing a deeper connection with exercise will make it become a part of who you are, not what you desire to become. One day after school and feeling quite defeated over why I do the things I do, I received a comment from Melanie. It surprised me because humbly I say with all my views, I do not get a lot of comments. So, I contacted Melanie right away to see what she was up to. It blew me away...research in cancer. This hits so close to home for me because of my family. There are so many reasons on why to exercise and Melanie was there being an advocate for it. People come into your life for a reason and this is one of those times, I feel it destined to share what she wrote. Please read this and share it if you know of someone with cancer or prone to it. The links Melanie provided are very insightful. Remember there are so many more reasons to exercise than just to look "good."
Her is what Melanie had to share:
Her is what Melanie had to share:
Cancer and its treatment can be devastating to the body. Excessive fatigue, nausea, depression and other negative effects have been well documented by doctors and researchers. In the past, doctors would have prescribed more medications to counteract these effects. Unfortunately, more medications meant an increased chance of the patient having a reaction to the amount of chemicals or falling victim to adverse medication interaction. Today, doctors have recommended exercise as a means to counter the effects of cancer and its treatment therapies.
Exercise increases the metabolism and heart rate, and it also helps to boost the patient’s immune system. A healthy immune system is better at fighting disease than a compromised one. A patient with a weakened immune system due to cancer treatment regimens is more susceptible to infection. Therefore, any steps a patient can take to strengthen their immune defenses would prove beneficial. Furthermore, exercise increases circulation, which in turn transports more nutrients and oxygen throughout the body, allowing the immune system to be more efficient.
Depression is a common complaint among cancer patients. Exercise increases the serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a hormone that helps to elevate a person’s mood. Cancer patients who exercise regularly are happier and have fewer episodes of depression. It can also help the patient to have a better outlook on life and their fight with cancer. This outlook also boosts the immune system and can help the patient’s body to augment the chemotherapy medications.
Since exercise helps to build muscle and increase the patient’s energy, he or she is more willing to get out of the house and enjoy a higher quality of life. Patient’s in remission who continue to exercise have reported increased or restoration of function of the area in which the cancer was diagnosed.
Pain management is often a hit-and-miss effort with medications, and often with cancer patients it is difficult to find effective ways to manage their pain and fatigue. The long list of benefits from exercise can help supplement painkillers for many cancer patients. Exercise releases endorphins, the body’s own natural pain-killing hormones. As stated before, it also brings increased oxygen to the areas with increased blood flow. Together, the two act as a helpful pain management tool to supplement medications.
A physician or physical therapist familiar with cancer patients should design an exercise program beneficial for each individual patient. No matter if the patient is battling breast cancer or mesothelioma, there are sure to be different levels of exercise that would prove beneficial for the patient. The patient could be encouraged to exercise three or more times a week, or simply go for a short walk each day. By increasing strength and repetition goals, the patient’s outlook, quality of life, pain management and health will benefit.
