Yoga: Extra Beneficial For Prostate Cancer Patients

A great stress buster, yoga has been a part of our lives since time immemorial. Apart from keeping the mind, body, and soul in harmony, yoga has also been known to help as part of the treatment for various illnesses. Practising yoga helps improve blood circulation and enhances lymphatic flow, both of which play a major role in the body’s internal purification processes. Yoga is one of the best physical exercises to rejuvenate the body and mind.

Prostate cancer affects the prostate gland, a part of the male reproductive system, which wraps around the male urethra at its exit from the bladder. Symptoms of prostate cancer include urinary problems, erectile dysfunction, blood in urine or semen, pain in the back, hip, pelvis or abdomen, weight loss, bone pain and swelling.

Prostate cancer is diagnosed by tissue biopsy, and initial screening procedures usually involve a rectal exam, ultrasound and checking for PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level. The treatments for prostate cancer include surveillance, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, vaccine therapy and other medical therapies that can affect prostate cancer cell growth.

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Yoga plays an essential role in minimising the side effects of prostate cancer treatment. Typical side effects such as urinary and bowel dysfunctions, impaired fertility, erectile dysfunction etc. can be fought by regularly practising the art of yoga.

In a study conducted in the United States, men with prostate cancer were asked to attend a biweekly yoga class. The researchers’ focus centred around issues like cancer-related fatigue, prevalence of erectile, urinary and bowel dysfunctions, and the overall quality of life. The results showed that men who practised yoga experienced less fatigue and better sexual, urinary and bowel function. For cancer patients, yoga helps particularly in the removal of toxins from the body and gives relief from stress and anxiety. Furthermore, it improves respiratory functions and vitality, which reduces physical weaknesses caused due to prostate cancer treatment. Studies have in fact established that yoga is a practice that will make the fight against cancer a little easier for the ones affected by it.

To know more: Prostate Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

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