- Two studies presented at a major cancer conference showed yoga reduced pain
- Experts believe it lowers the stress hormone cortisol which helps patients relax
- It also helps them sleep, meaning they are less exhausted, researchers claim
Sophie Borland Health Editor In Chicago For The Daily Mail
2
View
comments
Yoga improves the quality of life for women with breast cancer, research shows.
Two studies presented at a major US cancer conference showed that regular yoga reduced pain and fatigue.
Researchers believe yoga lowers the stress hormone cortisol which makes patients more relaxed and better able to cope with side effects.
It also helps them sleep, meaning they are less exhausted – one of the worst side effects from cancer and its treatment.
Researchers believe yoga lowers the stress hormone cortisol which makes patients more relaxed and better able to cope with side effects
What was the first study?
The first study was carried out by the University of Rochester in New York and involved 321 patients, the majority of whom had breast cancer.
Half practised yoga for 75 minutes, twice a week and the remainder carried on with the normal lifestyles.
After four weeks the women who did yoga were better able to sleep and had significantly lower levels of fatigue.
-
‘It was a small price to pay for still being here’: Retired…
Exercise is bad for your stomach: Taking part in vigorous…
They’ve cracked it! An egg a day helps babies stay healthy:…
Marriage is a life-saver: It cuts the risk of death from…
‘We recommend that doctors prescribe yoga’
Dr Po-Ju Lin, from the University of Rochester Medical Centre in New York said: ‘We recommend that doctors prescribe this low-risk, low-cost treatment to all cancer patients with cancer-related fatigue.
‘We would like them to prescribe gentle hatha yoga (a type of yoga) but they need to refer to appropriate yoga instructors who have experience of working with cancer patients.’
Two studies presented at a major US cancer conference showed that regular yoga reduced pain and fatigue in breast cancer patients
What was the second study?
A second trial by the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai, India is looking into whether yoga can improve breast cancer patients’ survival odds.
YOGA CAN RELIEVE BACK PAIN
Yoga can help relieve the agony of back pain, a major review of medical evidence found in January.
The practice, which includes stretching and breathing exercises, is an effective way to improve mobility and ease the chronic discomfort, University of Maryland experts said.
They found yoga was twice as likely to improve the condition than simply doing back exercises – and also improved overall physical quality of life.
Lower back pain affects four in five people at some point in their lifetime. Most cases are caused by lifting a heavy object badly or bending awkwardly, and in most instances will go away within a few weeks.
It involves 850 women undergoing treatment for breast cancer of whom half are doing yoga every day.
The first results have shown yoga significantly reduced their pain and tiredness and helped them go about their daily lives.
Women doing yoga also reported being in a better mood and being more active.
‘Yoga could help alleviate side-effects’
Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, said: ‘This intriguing research suggests that yoga could help alleviate some of the very difficult side-effects following breast cancer treatment, such as pain, fatigue and sleep deprivation.
‘These side-effects can have a hugely detrimental impact on patients’ quality of life and yoga is a low-risk widely-available activity that could help women manage and overcome them.
‘We now look forward to further research that can shed light on exactly which elements of yoga may be of benefit to women living with and beyond breast cancer.’
Dr Nita Nair, the lead researcher of the trial in Mumbai said yoga was a ‘discipline which encourages healthy mind and body practises.’
She said it should be used as a ‘complimentary therapy’ for cancer around the world.
Share or comment on this article
- Haunting D-Day photos of brave Allied troops wading…
- ‘This is for Syria’: Tourists locked down inside Paris…
- KATIE HOPKINS: No wonder they didn’t want us to know who…
- ‘A pawn in her sick game’: Woman, 20, ‘persuaded her…
- EXCLUSIVE: London Mayor Sadiq Khan shared platform with…
- EXPOSED: Pictures that prove Jeremy Corbyn addressed a…
- How to kill a career: TV reporter is fired after she was…
- Labour’s apologists for terror: The Mail accuses Corbyn…
- Corbyn DITCHES shadow home secretary Diane Abbott on eve…
- The last unmodernised mews house in London: ‘Beautifully…
- Hunt for teens seen in horrifying viral video sucker…
- Fears grow for seven-month-old baby boy who was ‘abducted…
- Who will save your sole? Chelsea Clinton hails cab to…
- Yet ANOTHER blow for under-fire Diane Abbott as she is…
- Police searching for EIGHTH victim of London Bridge…
- ‘Popular’ PE teacher, 25, pleads guilty to having sex…
- ‘The b*****d in the Arsenal shirt came at me first’:…
- Just like home! Prince Harry is handed a cuppa and a…
Comments 2
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.