How does physical activity affect risk of cancer complications?

Exercise reduces the likelihood of cachexia (extreme exhaustion) in cancer by 60%, scientists from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, USA said.

According to EurekAlert, cachexia occurs in 80% of patients with advanced cancer and is the cause of death in about a third of patients with cancer.

During the study, experts studied two groups of mice: the first exercised on a treadmill for eight weeks, and the second did not perform any exercise. It turned out that those subjects who exercised had slower tumor growth and less cachexia.

Earlier studies illustrated similar results. Moreover, research suggests that running plays an important cardioprotective role in cancer cachexia.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter