Causes of lung cancer and risk factors

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting millions of people worldwide every year. Until now, the main cause of cancer is still uncertain. However, experts have found a variety of possible causes as well as risk factors that contribute to the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Various causes of lung cancer

The following are some of the conditions that are thought to be the main causes of lung cancer:

1. Smoking habits

According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the causes of lung cancer is smoking. This has the potential to damage the cells that protect the lungs. When you inhale cigarette smoke that contains carcinogens, the changes that occur in the lung tissue can occur immediately.

That is, not only in active smokers, this condition can cause health problems in passive smokers. Initially, your body is still able to repair the damage caused by smoking.

However, over time, especially when the heart is constantly exposed to carcinogens, slowly, the cells that protect the lungs will experience more severe damage.

This can cause cells not to function normally, leading to the formation of lung cancer.

2. Exposure to radon

Another cause of lung cancer that you may experience is exposure to radon, which is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that naturally resides in soil. This substance can get out of the ground and enter buildings through small cracks and crevices.

3. Hazardous chemicals

Apart from cigarette smoke and radon, there are also causes of lung cancer, namely exposure to harmful chemicals. Usually, this is experienced by people who have jobs that are directly related to certain chemical substances.

Hazardous chemicals that can increase your potential for this condition are asbestos, uranium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and some very dangerous petroleum products.

The chemicals above can mix with the air you breathe. Since these materials are odorless and tasteless, chemicals can be difficult to detect. If you begin to feel symptoms of lung cancer, consult a doctor immediately.

You are also advised to regularly check your health condition if you are often exposed to these substances as a form of prevention against lung cancer.

Other risk factors that contribute to lung cancer

In addition to several things that can cause lung cancer, there are also several risk factors that can increase your potential for this condition, including:

1. Family medical history

Unfortunately, lung cancer is a hereditary disease. If a family member, such as a parent or relative, has lung cancer, your risk of developing this condition is also higher.

2. Personal medical history

It's not just a family medical history that can increase your potential for lung cancer. A personal medical history can also be the cause of your lung cancer.

You will certainly be more at risk of developing lung cancer if you have chronic lung diseases such as tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This lung disease causes inflammation and scarring in the lungs.

If you experience any of these health conditions, consult a doctor immediately for early detection of lung cancer. If the result is positive or you are diagnosed with this condition, immediately undergo lung cancer treatment and do various activities that can be used as a natural treatment for lung cancer.

3. Radiation therapy to the chest

Apparently, it is not only an unhealthy lifestyle that can increase risk factors that have the potential to cause lung cancer. Treatment such as radiation therapy can also increase your chances of developing this condition.

In fact, radiation therapy is generally used as a type of cancer treatment. Unfortunately, this therapy can lead to lung cancer, especially if you are an active smoker.

4. Diet

If you don't want to get lung cancer, you need to reduce the risk factors that could be the cause of the condition. One of them is an unhealthy diet.

Proper nutrition is of course very necessary to repair damaged body cells. If you cannot meet the nutritional needs of the body, your risk of developing lung cancer will increase.

Not only that, taking certain vitamins and supplements also increases your chances of experiencing this condition. Allegedly, consuming beta carotene for active smokers actually increases the risk of developing this one cancer.

5. Exposure to cigarette smoke

As previously mentioned, it is not only active smokers who have a risk of developing lung cancer from smoking. If you live with an active smoker, also known as secondhand smoke, the secondhand smoke that you breathe on a daily basis can cause you to develop lung cancer.

Therefore, if you are an active smoker, stop smoking for the good of you and those around you. Likewise with passive smokers, as much as possible avoid exposure to cigarette smoke wherever you are. If necessary, remind people closest to you to stop smoking for mutual health.

It is important for you to understand what are the causes of lung cancer to be more vigilant. In addition, try to manage the various risk factors you have if you don't want to experience this condition.

If you already have lung cancer, stop all unhealthy living habits, one of which is to quit smoking. In addition, try to adopt a healthy lifestyle so that the lung cancer stage you are experiencing does not get worse. It is also important to do so so that you don't experience complications from lung cancer.