Cardio Fitness: Go for the Gold!
As the engine that propels your cardiovascular system, your heart's ability to pump blood to your lungs determines your vitality and capacity for life. Cardiovascular fitness is one of the most important indicators of health and longevity in humans. While cancer treatments can significantly alter your cardio function and your fitness level, the goal is to recover pre-cancer conditioning and even increase it.
During aerobic exercise, the heart fills up with blood and pumps it out to the rest of the body. With training, the heart becomes more efficient, pumping more blood with each beat as it delivers oxygen to the working muscles. According to experts, circulating oxygenated blood is the best method we have to help the body heal itself.
You need to perform a minimum of 150 minutes of cardio activity per week, i.e. five sessions/week at 30 minutes per session. You should work at moderate to vigorous intensity, depending on your individual health status. When your doctor gives you permission, start with a walking program. A pedometer is a great tool for measuring your progress (see my post about pedometers). As you are able, and again, with medical clearance, try to increase the intensity and duration of your cardio sessions.
By promoting a high fitness level, you can improve your daily quality of life, energy level and immune function. Beyond that, new studies also show that being physically active can help reduce the risk of recurrence. For an inspiring personal story, visit the interview I did with Margo Kornfeld, SHARE volunteer and fitness enthusiast.
Posted November 30, 2011.
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