Better Health Centre |+| Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer….will you get it?

So, what are the main causes of lung cancer? You won’t have to be a Rhode Scholar to guess what heads the list!

Cigarette Smoking

Cigarette smoking is most closely correlated with lung cancer and emphysema.

The risk of developing the disease increases with the number of cigarettes smoked particularly if the person starts to smoke at a young age.

A person who smokes two packs or more of cigarettes per day has a one in seven chance of dying of lung cancer. A person who smokes one pack of cigarettes per day has a twenty-five times greater chance of developing lung cancer than a non-smoker. A person who smokes a pipe or cigar has a five times greater chance of developing lung cancer than a non-smoker.

Cigarette smoking damages the cells in your lungs. The moment you stop smoking, your lungs begin healing themselves, replacing damaged cells with healthy, normal cells. Your risk of developing lung cancer begins decreasing almost immediately when you quit smoking.

Every year that you don’t smoke, your chances of developing lung cancer drop further. By the fifteenth year, your chances of developing lung cancer are about the same as those of a person who has never smoked.

Isn’t that a great incentive to quit smoking?

Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma – – is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

Lung cancer mesothelioma is the deadliest of all asbestos related diseases. Medically speaking, lung cancer mesothelioma is a misnomer. Mesothelioma is not a cancer of the lungs; it generally affects the lining of the lungs.

Asbestos was widely used in construction and everyday products in the late 1800s through the 1960s. Asbestos separates into fine silica fibers like ash that become trapped in the tissues of the lungs.

Pleural Mesothelioma is inextricably linked to asbestos exposure.

A non-smoker who was exposed to asbestos has a five times greater risk of developing lung cancer than a non-smoker who was not exposed. Smoking increases the risk dramatically – a smoker who was exposed to asbestos has a risk of developing lung cancer that is 50 to 90 times greater than that of a non-smoker.

Radon Gas

It’s estimated that about 12% of lung cancer deaths can be attributed to radon gas which is a colorless, odorless gas that is a natural byproduct of the decay of uranium.

Unsuspecting homeowners may not realize the full risks associated with Radon gas in their homes. Radon gas can occur anywhere, however some areas of the United States are known to have abnormally high levels of this potentially deadly gas.

If Radon gas can be dissipated from homes and into the atmosphere it is relatively harmless. When Radon enters homes and stays trapped, which can frequently happen with today’s more tightly sealed homes; the gas can become a health problem. The Radon gas typically enters a home from a basement. If the basement is not adequately vented to the outside atmosphere the gas can build up to high levels within the home.

When purchasing a new home, make sure a Home Inspection is performed and that the Home Inspector checks for Radon levels. The cost for a Radon test is minimal and well worth it. If high levels of Radon gas are detected proper ventilation systems should be added to the home. The costs of such ventilation systems are again quite reasonable.

Some More Tips on Avoiding Lung Cancer

Regular exercise, eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding exposure to impure air including cigarette smoke will help strengthen your immune system and this will avoid acquiring the deadly disease.

Also there are some specific recommendations made by nutritionists in reference to lung cancer and include: eat your broccoli and cabbage; eat at least fives servings of fresh fruit and vegetables each day; blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are also important as they contain phytochemicals and lots of antioxidants; drink five cups or more a day of green tea which is another good antioxidant.

Lung Cancer is largely preventable: By stopping smoking, eating healthy food, some moderate daily exercise and avoiding exposure to carcinogens. Do some research here to find out more information about lung cancer.