Importance of Prescribed Exercise for Cancer Patients
Connection Between Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases
Recent studies indicate that cancer patients should engage in prescribed exercise to support heart health. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer rank among the most prevalent health issues in developed nations. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that cancer was the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for approximately 9.6 million fatalities in 2018. Both cancer and cardiovascular diseases share several common risk factors, including an unbalanced diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and insufficient physical activity.
Study Overview and Findings
A recent study published in the *European Journal of Preventive Cardiology* explored the impact of prescribed exercise on heart protection for cancer patients. The researchers examined how physical activity could help prevent cardiotoxicity, a known side effect of chemotherapy. They utilized the Borg Scale to assess the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) among participants.
The study recommended cardiopulmonary exercise and incremental testing as effective methods to tailor training intensity based on individual responses, characteristics, and preferences. Findings revealed that engaging in aerobic training, which burns over 1,500 calories in a week, resulted in a reduction of approximately 40% in cardiovascular risk. Additionally, inspired muscle training proved beneficial when performed for 1 to 3 sessions over a duration of 1 to 4 weeks at mild intensity.
Conclusions and Future Research Directions
The researchers concluded that endurance training significantly lowers inflammation and improves cardiovascular performance. They noted that resistance training may be more advantageous for weaker cancer patients and that inspired muscle training is particularly effective for those with thoracic cancers.
This research underscores the importance of physical activity during and after cancer treatments to mitigate the cardiovascular side effects of medications. Future investigations could focus on identifying the most effective training programs tailored to enhance patient well-being and tolerability.
References
Cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer.
D’Ascenzi, F., Anselmi, F., Fiorentini, C., Mannucci, R., Bonifazi, M., & Mondillo, S. (2019). The benefits of exercise in cancer patients and the criteria for exercise prescription in cardio-oncology. *European Journal of Preventive Cardiology*, 204748731987490. doi: 10.1177/2047487319874900
Escardio. (n.d.). Cancer patients who exercise have less heart damage from chemotherapy. Retrieved from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-10/esoc-cpw100419.php.
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