In this post I am going to provide info on other lifestyle considerations which may improve quality of life and outcomes for those who have been diagnosed with MGUS/SMM. While most of us know that physical activity, weight management, sleep and substance use are important in maintaining our health and quality of life, research published in 2021 gives us some guidelines which makes these considerations more clear.
Physical Activity
The American College of Sports medicine provides guidelines on physical activity and in 2019 they recommended moderate-intensity aerobic activity (exercise) for at least 30 minutes, at least three times per week, and resistance training at least two times per week for patients who have a malignancy. This provides a benchmark for those (with and without a malignancy) who wish to improve one’s lifestyle. Exercise has been shown to improve fatigue, muscle strength, aerobic fitness, quality of life, anxiety and self-esteem.
Weight Management
Regarding weight management, evidence has supported the role of excessive weight and obesity in the transformation of MGUS to MM. Nutrition is modifiable and may have the potential to influence both short-term and long-term outcomes.
An interesting article on diet recently appeared in the latest ‘HealthTree’ newsletter – see below.
Sleep
Adequate sleep quality plays a central role in maintaining both physiological and mental health. Poor sleep quality and duration has been linked to increased risk of infection, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cognitive impairment, metabolic dysfunction and mood-related disorders such as anxiety and depression. Managing symptoms and identifying sleep disorders can improve quality of life.
Alcohol
Regarding substance use, I often get asked whether it is ok to drink alcohol when one has MGUS/SMM. Alcohol is considered a carcinogen and accounts for multiple cancers and cancer deaths worldwide.
Interestingly, some studies suggest that alcohol consumption may have a protective effect against MM development - see:
It is thought that light intake of alcohol may improve immune response and the DNA repair system while heavy intake may impair the immune system and make the body more susceptible to infection. If one chooses to drink alcohol, intake should be limited to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
Back to curcumin, there is a plethora of new research and new formulations available out there. In my next post, I hope to provide an update on some clinical trial results and future perspectives on this much used compound.