Your mental and physical health can be affected by cognitive changes caused by cancer treatment. It can be caused by not being able to enjoy activities that you used to enjoy doing. Exercise can help manage your mental health and fight cognitive changes. It has been proven that regular exercise improves physical and mental well-being, combats fatigue, improves mood, reduces anxiety, and reduces depression. 

Exercise increases your blood flow

When you exercise, you increase your brain's blood flow, resulting in all of the benefits above. This is not just extremely beneficial, but it is absolutely essential that there is an increase in blood flow. Blood flow carries all the nutrients necessary for the brain to function. Our brain receives approximately 15% of our body's blood supply despite making up only 2-3% of our body's weight.

Increasing your blood flow increases the delivery of oxygen through the blood to your tissues, which the brain needs continuously in order to function and survive. One example is neurons (nervous tissue cells) which are responsible for coordinating and controlling many body functions such as emotions and memory. The neurons in nervous tissue produce and conduct impulses, which become more active during exercise. This promotes the growth of new blood vessels, which in turn improves the health and function of the brain by ensuring an adequate blood supply.

If you are struggling with exercise, don't panic; there are many types of movement and exercises that can also have the same effect on your health. Here's my list. 

If you are struggling with exercise check out our blog on simple exercises for more help - How to Improve your Physical Health