Cancer Prevention 101: Lifestyle Changes to Lower Your Risk of Lung Cancer: Explore lifestyle changes that can significantly reduce the risk of developing lung cancer, emphasizing prevention and early detection.
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins as a growth of cells in the lungs. The lungs are two cavernous organs located in the chest that control breathing. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.
Smokers have the highest risk of lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer increases with the length and number of cigarettes smoked. Quitting smoking, even if you have been smoking for many years, greatly reduces your chances of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer can develop even in people who have never smoked.
Although not all lung cancers can be prevented, changing controllable risk factors may reduce the risk of lung cancer.
Avoid tobacco: The best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer is to avoid smoking or breathing in other people’s smoke. If you quit smoking before cancer develops, the damaged lung tissue will gradually begin to repair itself. Regardless of your age or how long you’ve smoked, quitting can reduce your risk of lung cancer and help you live longer.
Avoid exposure to radon: Radon is an important cause of lung cancer. You can reduce your exposure to radon by getting tested and treated at home as needed. For more information, see Radon and Cancer.
Avoid or limit exposure to carcinogens: Avoiding exposure to known carcinogens, such as at work, may also be helpful (see Risk Factors for Lung Cancer). When people work in areas where such exposure is common, exposure must be minimized.
Eat a healthy diet: A healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables can also help reduce your risk of lung cancer. Some evidence suggests that a diet high in fruits and vegetables may help protect smokers and nonsmokers from lung cancer. However, the positive impact of fruits and vegetables on lung cancer risk is likely to be much smaller than the increased risk from smoking.
Attempts to reduce the risk of lung cancer by giving current or former smokers high doses of vitamins and vitamin-like drugs have so far been unsuccessful. In fact, some studies have found that supplements with beta-carotene, a nutrient related to vitamin A, appear to increase the incidence of lung cancer in these people. Some people who develop lung cancer have no clear risk factors. Although we know how to prevent most lung cancers, we currently do not know how to prevent all lung cancers.
Maintain a healthy diet and weight:
Eating a healthy diet and maintaining an optimal weight are essential to reducing your risk of lung cancer. Although a balanced diet cannot completely prevent lung cancer, it can support your overall health and help strengthen your body’s defenses.
Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables can promote lung health as they are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, contain compounds linked to a lower risk of lung cancer. Limit your intake of processed foods, red meat, and sugary snacks as they are associated with increased cancer risk.
Additionally, obesity can increase your risk of many types of cancer, including lung cancer, so maintaining a healthy weight is very important. Regular physical activity, such as jogging, walking, and cycling, not only helps you maintain a healthy weight, but also improves your cardiovascular health and overall health.
Exercise Habit:
If you don’t already do it, get into the habit of exercising regularly. Overall health can be improved through exercise.
Although there is no surefire way to prevent lung cancer, you can take precautions to reduce your risk of developing lung cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment increases survival rates.
Protect yourself from the sun:
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and one of the most preventable.
Try these tips: Avoid the midday sun. Avoid sunlight between 10am and 4pm. when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Please stay in the shade. When outdoors, stay in the shade as much as possible. Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat are also effective. Please cover your skin. Wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible. Please wear a head cover and sunglasses. Wear light or dark colors. It reflects the sun’s harmful rays better than pastels or bleached cotton. Don’t skimp on sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, even on cloudy days. Apply plenty of sunscreen.
Reapply every 2 hours or more after swimming or sweating. Do not use tanning beds or sunlamps. These can be as harmful as sunlight.
Things that don’t lower your risk of lung cancer:
You may have also heard of other ways to lower your risk of lung cancer. Some of these methods may be ineffective or may have negative health effects. Examples of things that cannot prevent lung cancer include:
Beta-carotene supplements: Beta-carotene is a substance found in yellow and orange fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens. The body uses vitamin A to produce vitamin A. Taking beta-carotene supplements does not reduce the risk of lung cancer and may even be harmful for heavy smokers.
Vitamin E supplements: Vitamin E strengthens the immune system and helps blood clot. However, there is no evidence that it affects lung cancer risk.
Antioxidants: Studies in mice have shown that antioxidant supplements can actually cause tumor growth and spread. If you are at high risk for lung cancer, you may want to avoid taking antioxidant supplements.
Screening: Screening means testing for a disease in the absence of symptoms or history of the disease. Doctors recommend screening tests to detect the disease early when treatment may be more effective. The only screening test recommended for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called low-dose CT scan, or LDCT). During an LDCT scan, you lie down on a table and an X-ray machine uses a low dose (dose) of radiation to create detailed images of your lungs. The scan takes just a few minutes and is painless.
Lifestyle and home remedies:
Many lung cancer patients experience shortness of breath. Treatments such as supplemental oxygen and medication are available to help you feel more comfortable. However, that alone is not always enough. The following are effective ways to deal with shortness of breath:
Relax. Feeling short of breath can be scary. But fear and anxiety only make it harder to breathe. If you start to feel short of breath, choose an activity that helps you relax. Listen to music, imagine your favorite vacation destination, meditate, or say a prayer.
Find a comfortable position: If you feel short of breath, leaning forward can help.
Focus on your breathing: If you feel short of breath, focus on your breathing. Instead of trying to fill your lungs with air, focus on working the muscles that control your breathing. Try breathing with pursed lips and adjusting the pace of your breathing to match your activity. Save your energy for what’s important. When you are short of breath, you get tired easily. You can prioritize your tasks for the day and save energy on what you need to do.
Tell your health care professional if you feel short of breath or if your symptoms worsen. There are many other treatments available to reduce shortness of breath.
Bottom line:
There are many things you can do to lower your risk of lung cancer. Many prevention methods, such as quitting smoking, regular exercise, and a healthy diet, can improve your overall health in a variety of ways. If you’re concerned about your risk of lung cancer and what you can do to prevent it, talk to your doctor. We may suggest testing or other options to reduce your risk.
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Author: MedBlog18 Blog Team
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