In this day and age, it should come as no surprise to hear that exercise is associated with better health. Initiatives from one side of the country to the other are encouraging kids and adults to get up and get active. Employees are trading out desk chairs for stability balls, schools are encouraging more guided physical activity at recess and gyms are opening up on just about every corner to encourage passersby to exercise.
But if you suffer from colon cancer in Beverly Hills, the pro-exercise argument may have even more credence. A recent study from the American Cancer Society found that increasing your activity levels can actually decrease your risk of mortality from colon cancer.
Researchers in this study were careful not to speculate that exercise itself increased a patient’s chance of surviving from colon cancer, but they did find that those who engaged in regular physical activity during the years after their diagnosis were more likely to overcome the disease when compared to those who engaged in a sedentary and otherwise unhealthy lifestyle.
When factors like age, medical history and diet were accounted for, exercise still proved to be a consistent marker of how patients fared against colon cancer.
The amount of exercise needed to experience this benefit may be smaller than you think. Most participants only spent about two and a half hours exercising each week, or five 30-minute sessions. What’s more, this activity didn’t have to take place all at once—many participants engaged in small bursts of activity throughout the day, like short morning, afternoon and evening walks. These small, simple bursts of activity were enough to improve their health, and may have even given them a boost in overcoming colon cancer in the years following their diagnosis.
If you or someone close to you has recently been diagnosed with colon cancer, it may be worth it to consider the benefits of regular exercise in your daily schedule. Fitting in simple activities like walks, bike rides or even routines like Zumba or yoga can offer a large collection of health benefits beyond your risk of colon cancer.
For more information about colon cancer, and to learn healthy ways that you can reduce your risk of the disease, contact your colorectal specialist.
