Exercises improve memory in breast cancer survivors.
(Mirror Daily, United States) – Breast cancer is known to have many severe consequences on patients, but exercises are one of the best natural treatments that help survivors deal with the side-effects of chemotherapy.
It is known that radiation and chemotherapy treatments affect the patient’s organism as they destroy many cells, sometimes even leading to memory issues even if cancer was fought back.
According to Siobhan Phillips, lead author of the latest study and assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, women who adopt a physical exercises program have a better memory capacity, and they are less stressed.
Stress is one of the leading causes of memory issues when it comes to breast cancer survivors. Worse, most of these women, who are in the process of recovering, have low self-confidence as they are emotionally tapped out, fatigued, stressed, and frightened.
All these ‘symptoms’ directly affect the brain, leading to memory issues. The team of researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg conducted a study in which over 1,800 breast cancer survivors participated. Some 362 of them had to wear ‘accelerometers,’ a type of tracking device.
During the research, scientists collected data regarding their health condition, especially the brain state. Both groups were requested to make vigorous or moderate physical activity including exercise classes, jogging, biking, and brisk walking.
At the end of the study, the team established that all participants were less fatigued and stressed. Plus, the benefits of these exercises were seen in the fact that these women had a better memory capacity.
It is worth mentioning that the benefits of physical activity were related to a higher level of self-confidence. Another recent study has proved that people who are usually busy have a lower risk of developing brain disease such as Alzheimer’s or dementia later in life.
Keeping your brain busy with work, study, and recreational activities from time to time is a very healthy way of living. On the other hand, couch-potato people have a higher risk of developing various health conditions because they have no activity.
A healthy lifestyle consisting of physical exercises and an excellent diet improves the life quality not only among breast cancer survivors but also among the entire United States population. Experts recommend people at least 75 minutes of moderate physical activity every week.
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