Exercise (or lack of it)

You know, I'm surprised I don't see moderate to strenuous exercise thrown about more often on cancer boards. To me, regular exercise is one of the most obvious, best things you can do for your body.

And I don't mean walking your dog around the block or pulling weeds. I mean heart-pumping, lung-filling, strenuous exercise. Running, jogging, swimming, jumping, skipping, anything that gets your heart-rate up for 30 mins or so.

Exercise has so many wonderful benefits. I don't have any statistics to back it up, but I would bet my last dollar that it raises your blood's oxygen level....which is good for cancer, right? Not only that, but it lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, evens out anxieties, lowers pain levels, builds muscle.....it's ALL good. And you can't get all this good stuff by simply walking around the block....you have to RAISE your HEART RATE!

I realize that many cancer patients may be unable to exercise in a strenuous way, but I think they should be encouraged to do what they can. Tweet