Yoga Helps Women Deal With the Mental Stress of Cancer

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 25, 2024.

By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Nov. 25, 2024 -- A cancer diagnosis can bring overwhelming stress and depression to women, but new research suggests yoga can help ease that emotional toll.

“A wellness intervention that integrates yoga and psychological tools may strengthen the connections among the mind, body and spirit, leading to a better and more meaningful quality of life,” said study senior author Deidre Pereira. She's an associate professor of clinical and health psychology at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville.

The new research involved 51 women who'd been diagnosed with some form of gynecological, gastrointestinal or thoracic cancer.

According to a university news release, they "enrolled in a 10-week, in-person, group intervention that used breathing and relaxation techniques, mindfulness meditation, psychotherapy skills and gentle yoga aimed at improving physical and mental quality of life."

Based on answers to detailed questionnaires, Pereira's team found women reporting a lowering of their symptoms of anxiety and depression after completing the program.

When it came to the physical symptoms of depression, the program was especially helpful to women of color, the researchers noted.

“Quality of life during and beyond cancer treatment is a critical component of whole-person cancer care,” explained study co-lead author Elizabeth Kacel, a recent graduate of the clinical psychology doctoral program at UF.

It's the program's use of yoga/meditation alongside psychotherapeutic training that really seemed to help, she added.

“The combination of both perspectives provides a powerful foundation that patients can stand on in coping with the ups and downs of cancer survivorship,” said Kacel, who is now a clinical health and cancer psychologist at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center.

The study was published recently in the journal Integrative Cancer Therapies.

Sources

  • University of Florida, news release, Nov. 22, 2024

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2024-11-26 00:00

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords