Lifestyle Behavior Contributing To Lung Cancer

Lifestyle behavior contributing to lung cancer

With rapid lifestyle changes, people are now inclined towards practices that may pose a serious threat to their health. The constant changes result in increased stress levels. That said, people are adapting to practices that may help them de-stress. While some may adapt to healthy habits, some may indulge in practices that are likely to harm their body -- smoking tobacco is one of them.

Smoking tobacco is likely to increase the risk of developing lung cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 90 percent of all lung cancers are due to cigarette smoking.

Lung cancer is an uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. These abnormal cells fail to function as a normal one and form tumors which disrupts the normal functioning of lung and spread to other part of the body.

What lifestyle habits fail to protect your lungs:

Smoking

The predominant factor that declines the health of the lungs is smoking -- both in smokers as well as in people exposed to secondhand smoke that leads to lung carcinoma. Additionally, using other tobacco products such as cigars or pipes also increases the risk of lung cancer. However, lung cancer can also occur in people who never smoked and never had prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke.

It is important to understand that tobacco smoke is a toxic mix of more than 7,000 chemicals, which causes lung cancer by damaging the cells that line the lungs. When cigarette smoke is inhaled, which is full of carcinogens (cancer-causing substances), alterations in the lung tissue begin almost immediately.

Initially, your body may be able to repair this damage, but with repeated exposure, normal cells that line your lungs are damaged severely. This damage causes cells to act abnormally and eventually, cancer may develop.

Sedentary lifestyle

Being physically inactive is linked with increased health risk, especially with a direct effect on the heart and lungs. Thus, regularly exercising is the most important thing you can do to keep your lungs and heart-healthy.

Exercising regularly will not only keep your body in shape but will keep your lungs healthy too. When the body is physically active, the heart beats faster, while the lungs work harder. The body requires more oxygen to fuel the muscles. It is when the lungs step up their activity to deliver that oxygen while letting out additional carbon dioxide.

Developing strong, healthy lungs through exercise will help you to not only resist aging but also to keep diseases at bay. In case, you do develop lung disease down the line, exercise will help slow the progression and keep you active longer. Thus the more you exercise, the more efficient your lungs are likely to become.

Alcohol

Heavy consumption of alcohol is more likely to cause lung cancer. Depending on the amount consumed per day, beer lovers are at high risk, as these lead to lung carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. A Clinical Research study reported that all alcoholics are at a risk of 30 percent. Surprisingly, there is less chance of lung cancer in other liquors and wines.

Diet

Nutritional plans are linked to the development of lung cancer. The intake of fatty foods with alcohol consumption and cigarette exposure is said to have higher cancer risk. The risk of squamous cell cancer is directly associated with foods such as fish, red meat, pork, fried meat with smoking cigars, and drinking alcohol in everyday life. In contrast, foods such as tomatoes, lettuce, and a few dairy products have an adverse response to lung cancer risks.

Exposure to pollutants

Exposure to pollution is more likely to damage the lungs and speed up aging. The younger the person, the easier it is for the lungs to resist these toxins. With age, the resistance power decreases, and they become more vulnerable to infections and other diseases.

Thus, it is vital to give your lungs a break and reduce your exposure as much as you can to secondhand smoke, going outside during peak air pollution times, refrain from exercising near traffic areas, and take safety measures accordingly.

That said, specific jobs like construction, mining, and waste management are more likely to increase the risk of exposure to airborne pollutants.

As per the study, indoor pollution is typically worse than outdoor. Therefore, ensure to decrease indoor pollutants by making your home a smoke-free zone, dusting the furniture every alternate day at least, and opening a window frequently to increase indoor air ventilation.

The increased rate of lung cancer is a rising concern. Thus it is imperative to incorporate healthy lifestyle habits and consult a medical professional in case of any concerns. By paying attention to these tasks, you can help keep your lungs working optimally for life.