Until recently, for those suffering from lymphedema, exercise was not advised. Doctors treating b****t cancer patients specifically asked them to avoid carrying bags or lifting heavy objects with the affected arm for the fear of aggravating the lymphedema. However, with research it has been proved that light exercises performed during the course of treatment help with the decongestion of the limb. Besides, exercises improve the flexibility of the body and promote the circulation of body fluids, thus reducing the symptoms of lymphedema. They also help to strengthen the body and improve mobility in lymphedema patients. Recent studies have shown that lymphedema exercises in the form of light weight lifting can prove to be beneficial to women who have b****t cancer surgery. They are able to cope better with the lymphedema treatment and overall their quality of life improves. However, there is one precaution to be taken by these women and that is to wear the compression garment at all times during the exercise schedule. Some precautions to be taken by lymphedema patients while performing any exercise are detailed below: 1. The importance of consulting the doctor before starting exercises cannot be stressed enough. 2. The affected limb must not be stressed or overused. Only exercise as much as you are able to. Stop at the first signs of distress or pain. Build up your strength gradually so that you can perform to the full extent. 3. Ensure that there is at least a 20 to 30 minute interval between the exercise and manual lymph drainage session. 4. Deep abdominal breathing before and after the exercise session is required. It helps the patient relax and also stimulates the flow of lymph. 5. As mentioned earlier, the compression garment must be worn during the exercise. 6. Keeping the body hydrated by drinking plenty of water while exercising is crucial to maintain fluid balance. 7. It is advisable to exercise moderately as over-exercising the affected limb might aggravate the condition. Very often, the reaction is delayed and you may not feel any discomfort while exercising, but the indications may show up after a few hours. 8. After the exercise session, you must rest and elevate the affected limb for at least 15 to 20 minutes. There are numerous types of lymphedema exercises that can be taken up by the patient which are beneficial in maintaining the circulation of body fluids. Endurance exercises like walking, jogging, bicycling and aerobics promote deep breathing and help to increase the heart rate. Resistance training or strength training exercises are ideal for a lymphedema patient as the muscle contractions help in stimulating lymph flow. Dancing is considered to be an enjoyable activity as also playing golf. Yoga and stretching exercises help in stretching out the skin and the muscles so that the feeling of tightness is reduced. Any form of exercise that can be comfortably performed by the patient, can help to improve the flexibility and range of movement of the lymphedema affected limb. Lymphedema is associated with a collection of high protein fluid in the tissue spaces. Therefore, there is a question that arises regarding the intake of a protein rich diet. However, the high concentration of protein in the lymphatic fluids has no connection with the protein rich food you take. In fact, proteins are essential for rebuilding the wear and tear in the tissues and muscles. They are considered to be the building blocks of the body as they play a crucial role in manufacturing hormones and antibodies to fight off infection. If there is a shortage of proteins, the body will take the necessary proteins from the tissues and muscles to maintain the protein level in the blood. This will further weaken the body, especially for a person suffering from lymphedema. So then, starving the body of proteins is not an ideal form of lymphedema diet. In selecting a lymphedema diet, patients must avoid foods that promote weight gain. Maintaining an ideal body weight helps in maintaining the lymphedema as well. Extra body fats will increase the tissues from where the lymph needs to be drained. Your lymphatic system which is already stressed will not be able to cope with the additional burden and this may cause pressure on the lymph nodes, an invitation to disaster. Another disadvantage of gaining weight is that the patient may become less mobile and so may be unable to exercise. This further reduces the movement of the lymphatic flow leading to stagnation and cause swelling.
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