This is behalf on pulmonary cancer prevention month
Introduction
Lung cancer
The leading type of cancer diagnosed in males.
4th most common cancer in females.
The leading cause of cancer death.
The most common cause is tobacco smoking
Other causes are,
- Exposure to second-hand smoking,
- Exposure to asbestos and other occupational dust and chemicals,
- Having other lung diseases
- Being an older age
- Genetic preposition
- Usually seen in people over 60 years
Aim of Physiotherapy
Before surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy
To maximize your physical fitness
To help you tolerate treatment better
Speed up your recovery
During chemotherapy or radiotherapy
To keep you fit, reduce symptoms & maximize your quality of life & psychological status.
After surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy
To restore any loss in fitness & muscle strength
Maximize your functional abilities, psychological status & quality of life for the long term.
Exercises
Aerobic exercises
30 minutes
At least 5 days per week
Examples
Brisk walking
Jogging
Stationary bike
Swimming
Strengthening exercises
2-3 days per week
To keep your muscles strong
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Involves supervised group exercise, education & support
Education
- How to understand your disease
- How to best manage your symptoms
- How to stop smoking/cut down(if you are a smoker)
- How to eat a healthy diet
Exercising in a group environment
Once/twice a week for 6-8 weeks
Balance exercises(if you had fallen)
Effective physiotherapy for lung cancer
Guidelines
Can do 150 minutes/more of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week (Eg-walking)
2-3 session of resistance training per week
Avoiding sedentary time
Benefits of physiotherapy
Improving exercise capacity(fitness)
Improving muscle strength
Reducing cancer symptoms
Reducing depression
Reducing anxiety
Reducing cancer distress
Improving the quality of life
Higher physical activity levels after diagnosis of certain types of cancer
Reduced rates of mortality
The best thing to do at home is to exercise daily & lead to exercise daily & lead an active lifestyle.
30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week
Brisk walking is safe & easy to achieve this
Aim to do 10,000 steps every day
Anchala Sivasubramaniyam
Reference
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