Exercise helps menopause

Increasing the volume and intensity of regular physical exercise could help combat certain symptoms of menopause, in particular for women experiencing amplified symptoms due to cancer treatments, researchers say.

The research, published in Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society, focused on women previously treated for cancer.

Some cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy or surgical removal of the ovaries, can lead to the sudden onset of menopause, often accompanied by more frequent and severe symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep and mood disturbances.

Nearly 300 women took part in the study. As well as analysing the link between self-reported physical activity and menopause symptoms, the scientists sought to determine whether intervention specifically targeting lifestyle behaviour could improve changes in physical activity levels and menopause symptoms.

The results suggest that menopause symptoms are less severe in women with medium to high levels of physical activity than in those with low levels of physical activity.

However, researchers found that intervention did not appear to play a role in increasing physical activity in women being treated for breast, reproductive, or blood cancers.

Women being treated for breast cancer, for example, were less likely to engage in health-promoting behaviours.

The research could help encourage exercise training to be considered as part of long-term maintenance programmes for women after cancer treatment.

“This study highlights some of the many known benefits of exercise in women with or without cancer,” says Dr Stephanie Faubion, the society’s medical director. “Although exercise was not associated with less bothersome hot flashes ... it may help with other menopause symptoms.”

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