India is dealing with a staggering health problem involving lung cancer. Each year, almost one lakh (100,000) individuals get diagnosed with this harsh disease. It is more than just statistics; these are genuine individuals who live in and are affected by the disease. Risk factors are essential in disease prevention, early detection, and successful management.
What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer is a process by which cells in the lungs grow uncontrollably in order to form tumors, which later impact neighboring parts of the body. It is also a disease that cannot be ignored, like flu or cold.
Lung cancer rise in India is like that of many other countries. From the National Institute of Cancer Research, it is evident that lung cancer is not a common type of cancer in India, as it ranks the fifth order with 5.9% of the cancer incidents in India. What makes it an alarming disease is that many diagnoses happen at a late stage at which treatment is challenging to apply.
Which group has a higher risk of lung cancer?
Some people are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer than others. However, even though anyone can catch the disease, some populations are more at risk:
More than 80-90% of lung cancer cases are actually due to tobacco smoking. Those who are surrounded by people smoking will face a considerable risk as well. Follow the lives of youth who grow up in homes where others smoke and the youth who have parents who abuse substances.
Injury, lack of education, mental distress, and sleeping disorders are some accounts of the situations attributed to smoke abuse while living with non-smoking youth.
What are the most significant risk factors for lung cancer?
Even though tobacco has been ranked as the number one risk factor throughout, others still exist. Here are some top ones:
Smoking: Smoking devices include cigarettes, Bidis, and other ways to use tobacco. The risk factors increase depending on the amount of smoking and the length of the smoking period.
Air pollution: The most polluted cities in the world are the urban areas, particularly the metropolitan cities of India. High levels of air pollutants thus reduce people’s life expectancy and cause lung cancer.
Workplace exposure: Direct exposure to chemicals has its highest risks to people in the mining, construction and manufacturing industries.
Genetic factors: A certain percentage of people are genetically more prone to developing lung cancer.
Radon gas: Though less common in India, this naturally occurring radioactive gas can accumulate in buildings and increase lung cancer risk.
How does air pollution contribute to lung cancer?
The analogy for not taking preventative measures against air pollution is like taking poison regularly, which you believe will prevent health problems in your body. The air quality is unsafe in cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, which could be better. These little pieces rise through the respiratory system of people’s bodies, and the orders are cancer, asthma, COPD, inflammation, etc.
A survey showed that people in highly polluted regions were likely to die from lung cancer, with a probability that was 20 to 30% higher than that in places with cleaner air. Gaseous emissions contain cancer-promoting substances that may lead to the formation of cancerous cells. These particles contain carcinogenic substances that can trigger cancer development.
Are some types of lung cancer more prevalent?
In general, lung cancers are classified into two categories. They are small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancers. The latter occurs in approximately 80 – 85% of people who have lung cancer.
The various forms of lung cancer also differ in how rapidly they grow and spread. Some can metastasize quickly, while others might do so slowly. For this reason, personalized medical assessment is so critical.
To what extent do lifestyle factors play an essential role?
Lung cancer is a disease influenced by aspects that border on the way of life. Unhealthy eating, non-existent exercise regimes, and high amounts of stress can hurt the body’s ability to protect itself.
They include increasing fruit and vegetable consumption over other starchy foods, zero or low-calorie intake, regular checkups, and exercises to help reduce the chances of developing deadly diseases. These prevention methods are not certain, but they may build up your body’s immunity.
How does age impact lung cancer risk?
Age is a significant risk factor. Lung cancer occurs among most of the cases diagnosed in people aged above 50 years. With age, our cells are more liable to damage and mutations that ultimately cause cancer.
However, the same does not mean that younger people are risk-free. Lung cancer has increasingly been reported in young patients. Those cases are mainly linked to bad lifestyle habits and environmental effects. Can lung cancer be prevented?
While we cannot eliminate all risks, several strategies can cut down your chances of developing lung cancer:
- Quit smoking or never start
- Avoid secondhand smoke
- Use protective equipment in polluted or chemical-exposed environments
- Get regular health checkups
- Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle
- Use air purifiers in highly polluted areas
- Practice breathing exercises
- Warning signs everybody needs to know
Along with early detection, some key warning signs include:
- A persistent cough that doesn’t go away
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Unexplained weight loss
- Coughing up blood
- Recurring respiratory infections
None of these signs are always indicative of cancer, but they are not signs that should be dismissed. Immediately consult with a healthcare professional.
How can Ayurveda prevent cancer these days?
Ayurveda is the oldest system of medical science practiced in India. It works primarily on the bodily and psychosocial levels.
In the current millennium, many individuals have been practicing elements of Ayurveda to prevent cancer and enhance health. The following are ways in which Ayurveda has become a cure for most cancers today.
Diet and Nutrition: Ayurveda permits nutritious meals that cater to individual needs. Antioxidant foods are young, fresh, and seasonal sperms and include foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and any other food that tends to make the immune system in humans extra strong. Mild spices like turmeric, ginger, and garlic are more effective because of their recognized effects, such as the anti-inflammatory properties that may help counter a possible rise in cancer incidences.
Detoxification: Panchakarma is the routine or occasional detoxifying treatment prevailing in Ayurveda cures. These treatments are, in fact, the essential idea in eliminating the ‘ama’ toxins. Cleansing the body may also help to improve the function of the metabolic systems of the body, hence improving cell health, and this will go hand in hand with decreased risks of cancer.
Stress Management: Research shows that some diseases, such as cancer, result from long-term stress. Yoga, meditation, Pranayama, etc., of Ayurveda are helpful for stress reduction and maintaining general health. The body’s key physical and physiological aspects also help to provide the necessary immune response.
Lifestyle Choices: Ayurveda values a solidified way of life, such as regular sleeping activities, physical fitness, and mindful eating. A routine effectively regulates body functions and is a preventive measure against aging diseases, including cancer.
Herbal Remedies: Ayurveda has also contributed some particular herbs, such as Ashwagandha, Tulsi, and Neem, which—according to people’s beliefs—act as cancer prevention measures. These herbs improve the body’s immune system and, at the same time, make humans enjoy overall good health.
Apart from taking medicines, people can adopt Ayurvedic lifestyles to prevent cancer. By enforcing diet, detoxification, stress management, correct lifestyle choices, and herbal remedies, people can promote their overall health and even possibly reduce their risk of cancer in today’s world.
What does the future look like?
Medical research is making incredible progress. New screening techniques, targeted therapies, and a better understanding of lung cancer are offering more hope than ever before.
In India, awareness, better air quality measures, and general access to health care will lower the rate of lung cancer. Everyone can play a part by living a healthy life and generating widespread support for public health actions.
Conclusion: Hope and Action
The battle with cancer is challenging but not in vain. Applying that knowledge to lifestyle choices and seeking early medical advice will do the trick.
Remember, your lungs are precious. They work tirelessly to keep you alive, breathing, and
experiencing life. Protecting them isn’t just a medical necessity; it’s a way of honoring your body’s incredible work.
REFERENCES
https://www.cdc.gov/lung-cancer/risk-factors/index.html
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10231735/
https://www.jto.org/article/S1556-0864(21)01704-4/pdf
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lansea/article/PIIS2772-3682(24)00080-5/fulltext
https://cancerindia.org.in/statistics/
https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21492