Will Exercise Aggravate my Colon Cancer Symptoms?
If you have been diagnosed with colon cancer in Los Angeles and are experiencing severe symptoms, then you will probably be worried about doing anything to make them even worse. If you were previously an active person, then it is perfectly normal for you to want to carry on with physical activities that you enjoy. However, you should be aware that certain types of exercise may need to be avoided, depending on the exact symptoms that you have been experiencing.
If your main symptom is diarrhea, then you will need to stay away from high impact types of exercise that may increase the strain on your digestive system. People who experience diarrhea generally find that they need to give up activities such as running, because this causes the symptoms to become worse. This may also mean that sports involving running, such as tennis, soccer and other team games, may not be ideal for you either.
However, there are many forms of exercise that you will still be able to do, without worrying about any aggravation of your symptoms. Swimming and cycling are both activities that are excellent forms of cardio exercise and will increase your heart rate, while also being low impact. You may also want to consider activities such as yoga and Pilates, which will help to maintain your fitness.
Exercise is an excellent idea for colon cancer patients, as it helps to keep up your level of fitness, which will aid your recovery. It is also needed to maintain the regular movement of material through the digestive system, so exercising and eating regularly can actually help to reduce your symptoms, regardless of whether you are suffering from diarrhea or constipation.
If you have not been diagnosed with colon cancer, but are looking to reduce your risk of developing this surprisingly common condition, then exercise is one of the best preventative measures you can take. It maintains the steady movement of material through the gastrointestinal tract, which ensures that you will not be exposed to high levels of carcinogens that may be present in your food. This shortens the time that these chemicals are in your digestive system, and means that they will cause much less damage to the cells on the lining of the colon. These chemicals are naturally present in your food, and are unlikely to cause any harm if your gastrointestinal system is functioning normally.
It is estimated that undertaking exercise on a regular basis can reduce your risk of developing colon cancer by a quarter, based on a recent analysis carried out on studies from the past 25 years. Any form of activity will help to reduce your risk, even if it is as simple as a brisk walk once a day. You should aim for more than this, ideally; it is recommended that adults undertake some form of moderate exercise at least three times a week, for a minimum of thirty minutes each time.
Exercise is advisable for all colon cancer patients, but you may need to experiment to find activities that you enjoy, without needing to worry about aggravation of your symptoms.