Regular exercise is one of the most important things you can do for
your health. A lower risk of weight gain, diabetes, heart disease and
some cancers are among a long list of positive health effects of
exercise. Lesser known benefits include improved mental health,
cognitive function and greater feelings of well-being. Exercise is
essential for development of children, maintaining health in adults and
can even reverse some of the effects of aging.
Despite these clear benefits, many people do not participate in regular
exercise until they have a medical condition, like a heart attack or
cancer, that motivates them to start. It is well known that people who
exercise have a lower risk of heart attack and improved survival if they
do have one. While immediate treatment of a heart attack using
medications and surgery is critical, the truth is that the long-term
outcomes are largely based on what happens next. Traditionally, heart
disease patients were told to rest and not stress their hearts, a belief
that many still hold today. Now we know that exercise-based cardiac
rehabilitation programs are key to improving heart health and preventing
future complications.
Most cardiac rehabilitation programs include several phases that
include monitored exercise, education about nutrition, weight control,
stress management, proper medication use and psychosocial well-being.
The benefits of cardiac rehabilitation are well-established through
research and practice. In fact, many patients credit cardiac
rehabilitation with saving their lives, even if they had bypass surgery.
Despite this, less than a third of patients who are eligible for
cardiac rehabilitation actually attend a program.
Exercise is also known to reduce the risk of developing certain types
of cancer, including breast, colon, bladder, lung, kidney and
endometrial cancers. This is due to the fact that exercise causes
changes at the cellular and hormonal level that result in reduced
inflammation and improved immune system function. Regular physical
activity can also improve survival and reduce the risk of recurrence of
cancer.
In addition to helping reduce the risk of cancer development and
recurrence, regular exercise can help you handle cancer treatment
better. To be sure, cancer treatment can lead to extreme physical
consequences including loss of weight, muscle mass, strength and
endurance. At least some of this is due to more time resting and less
time being active, the effects of which occur within days and get worse
over time.
The fitter you are when you begin treatment, the fitter you will be at
the end because you have “saved” more strength and endurance in your
fitness bank. You simply have more you can lose before you get to a
point at which you can’t complete your normal activities. And
post-cancer exercise programs are becoming more common as a way to help
women recover from cancer treatment and rebuild strength, endurance, and
feelings of well-being.
Another benefit of cardiac rehabilitation and cancer exercise programs
is the support from other heart attack and cancer survivors. Combined
with support from medical professionals, family and friends, these
groups become an essential resource for information, comfort and
encouragement.
If you or someone you know has had a heart attack, heart surgery or a
cancer diagnosis, encourage them to ask their doctor about an
appropriate exercise program – it is likely to be the best way to
improve quality of life. In our area, there is a cardiac rehabilitation
program based at the USC Aiken Wellness Center as well as at several
hospitals in Augusta. There is also an exercise program for cancer
survivors called Livestrong at the YMCAs in Aiken, North Augusta and
Augusta.
http://www.aikenstandard.com/article/20161009/AIK0403/161009554
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