Why do people who have never smoked get lung cancer?

 Why do people who have never smoked get lung cancer?

According to experts, the most important cause of lung cancer is smoking. 80 percent of patients who are battling lung cancer are cigarette and tobacco smokers. But the remaining 20 percent of lung cancer patients are those who have never smoked.

Therefore, even people who do not smoke cigarettes and tobacco, do not live in any highly polluted areas, and do not work in any mines are at risk of developing lung cancer. Therefore, we need to know about lung cancer, its causes, and preventive measures.

How do the lungs work and how does cancer affect it?

The lungs are a part of the respiratory system of the human body. They act as a filter in the human body. When we breathe, along with air, gases such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen also enter through the nose and mouth. The lungs select only the oxygen gas from them and deliver it to the body, and throw the rest of the gas out.

Lung cells work continuously. When old cells are damaged, new cells are restored on their own. But when the human body encounters external chemicals such as smoking, it destroys lung cells.

When you smoke for a long time or live among smokers, lung cells are destroyed. Then the system that restores the damaged cells with new healthy cells is affected. Then those cells start creating new malignant cells that affect our breathing process.

Causes of lung cancer

Tobacco and smoking: The biggest cause of lung cancer in the world is tobacco use and smoking. 80 percent of lung cancer patients are caused by tobacco and smoking.

In fact, thousands of deadly chemicals enter the human lungs through smoking. Many of them become cancer-causing chemicals. Not only smoking, but also chewing tobacco increases the risk of lung cancer.

In addition, secondhand smoke can also be a factor in lung cancer. If you are close to a person who is smoking, the smoke they blow reaches your lungs through your breath and you are also at risk of developing lung cancer.

Charles Swanton, the head of cancer research in the UK, says - it is not a small matter that non-smokers get lung cancer. Of the patients who come to me, 5 to 10 percent are those who have never smoked, but they have lung cancer.

Air pollution: There is widespread air pollution in urban areas of developing countries.

Traffic jams, chemicals from industries, smoke and residues from burning waste affect lung cells and increase the risk of cancer.

Radon is a radioactive gas that is found in construction sites and in various types of soil. People who live in areas with such gases for a long time have a higher risk of lung cancer.

Occupational hazards

One of the main causes of lung cancer is the workplace environment. Workers working in various industries can suffer from lung cancer. Workers working in mines and chemical factories, and workers working in restaurants and bars are more likely to develop lung cancer.

In addition, genetics is also a factor in lung cancer. Due to genetics, lung cancer is also seen in some non-smokers.

Symptoms of lung cancer

According to the World Health Organization, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Lung cancer is considered the leading cause of death in both women and men. There are various symptoms of lung cancer, which indicate problems in the lungs -

Persistent cough

Chest pain

Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing

Thinning of the blood

Feeling tired

Weight loss for no reason

Frequent lung infections

The initial symptoms may be normal or may not seem to be a problem with the lungs at first. This may delay timely treatment.

What are the chances of surviving lung cancer?

According to doctors, the lungs are an important part of the human body. The main problem with this organ is that until the lungs are severely damaged, there may be no symptoms. Therefore, by the time a person is diagnosed with symptoms, lung cancer may have reached the final stage.

However, 15 to 20 percent of cases of lung cancer are treatable. Early-stage tumors can be treated. But cancer that has reached the final stage is not possible to treat.

According to research published in the Lancet journal, lung cancer was the second most common cancer in the world by 2020. At that time, more than 2.2 million new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed worldwide each year. This was 11.6 percent of all cancer cases. But the number of deaths from lung cancer was 1.796 million. Which is the total number of deaths from all types of cancer. The U.S. had 18 percent.

According to experts, lung cancer also occurs in non-smokers due to factors such as air pollution and changes in cells. According to various studies, most of the people suffering from lung cancer in South Asia are non-smokers.

Protective measures

The World Health Organization and doctors agree that to reduce the risk of lung cancer, we should stay away from smoking and tobacco use.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, various measures should be taken to reduce the risk of lung cancer, such as not smoking, staying away from places and people where smoking is done, not living in air-polluted environments, staying away from areas with harmful chemical emissions, etc.

Also, you should check the level of radon gas in your home and take measures to reduce it if the amount of this harmful gas is high. If someone in your family has lung cancer, you should take precautions and get regular checkups and try to stay healthy. Controlling weight, eating a healthy and balanced diet, practicing yoga and exercise, and adopting a healthy lifestyle also reduce the risk of diseases like cancer.

Experts say that a healthy lifestyle reduces your risk of developing any type of cancer. It helps in the production of antioxidants in your body, which stop the growth of cancer cells.