Everyone knows that exercise is he alth, but the fact that selected physical exercises can help fight cancer is not so obvious. How do I exercise to prevent or keep my illness from coming back? Janusz Pić, a specialist in the field of physical recreation, nutritionist and author of the guide "You can win with cancer and allergy", indicates exercises that are worth doing in order to mobilize the body to fight cancer.
Physical movementhas many beneficial effects on the human body, and in the fightagainst cancerit is an important preventive tool, as well as preventing disease recurrence . The primary goal of physical exercise is to oxygenate the body, whichreduces the risk of cancer . An active lifestyle rejuvenates the body's functions, increases muscle endurance, helps to relieve mental tension and regulate body weight. In addition, beneficial cholesterol is released during exercise, which protects the arteries against the deposition of this unfavorable cholesterol.Regular exercise reduces the risk of developing, among others, breast, colon, colon and lung cancer.
- It has been proven that physical activity increases our immune resistance, thanks to which the body is equipped with defense mechanisms, which is important both for people who want to protect themselves against cancer and those after oncological treatment - says Janusz Pić, specialist in the field of physical recreation as well as food technology and macrobiotic nutrition. - Walking, breathing and stretching exercises and massages not only strengthen the body's immunity, but also reduce unpleasant side effects of treatment, such as fatigue, nausea, constipation or anxiety, stress and anxiety, which in extreme cases can lead to depression - explains MSc Janusz Pić.
Cancer prevention: what exercises to choose?
For patients after oncological treatment, the most effective forms of exercise are walking, breathing exercises, isometric-relaxing exercises and anti-swelling prophylaxis. People who have just left the oncology hospital should start with short walks lasting 5-10 minutes repeated 3times a week. Over time, the period of walking should be extended and walking and walking should be introduced gradually. It is important to remember about the correct heart rate during exercise. If we do not know what it should be, we can ask you to determine it on an exercise ECG or calculate it yourself by subtracting your age from the value of 200. For example, the maximum heart rate per minute for a 45-year-old is 155, and during physical exertion we should reach 70% of this value, i.e. in this case about 109 beats per minute.
Breathing exercises
A very important technique for cancer prevention are breathing exercises that help regulate the functions of the heart, respiratory and nervous systems. There are several groups of breathing exercises. One of them is abdominal (diaphragmatic) breathing, which consists in breathing only with the diaphragm in a sitting position. An example of such an exercise is alternating chest breathing, i.e. inhaling and exhaling once through the right and once through the left nostril.
Anti-swelling exercises
A major inconvenience for people after breast cancer treatment is lymphoedema, which is formed as a result of removal of vessels or lymph nodes in the armpit. For oncological patients suffering from this inconvenience, anti-edema prophylaxis is the most recommended. These exercises consist primarily of a properly developed self-massage technique, in which all movements are made towards the chest, i.e. along the course of the lymphatic vessels. Various forms of self-massage are used, including stroking, kneading, squeezing and patting.
Isometric-relaxing exercises
A separate group of exercises is aimed at oncological patients with concomitant diseases of the motor organs. Isometric-relaxing exercises, because we are talking about them, involve periodically tightening the muscles involved in movement and relaxing the others. They improve the lymph flow in the body, preventing postoperative edema.
Properly selected sets of exercises with photos and detailed descriptions can be found in chapter four of the guide "You can win with cancer and allergy" by Janusz Pia, psychologist and psychotherapist Barbara Drink, MSc. More information on the "Hope" cancer treatment guide and program is available at: www.wygrajznowotworem.pl.