10 Things that can Increase Cancer Risk & Chances
Article by Surbhi Jalan,
Cancer, medically known as known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a vast group of diseases involving unregulated multiplication of cells. It is an intricate group of diseases with hundreds of probable causes. There are many causes of cancer including genetic factors like family disease; lifestyle factors such as intake of alcohol, tobacco and physical activity; certain kinds of infections; and exposures to various radiations like ultraviolet rays and chemicals. There are also various ways by which cancer can be prevented which includes eating healthy diet with more vegetables, not smoking, exercising, avoiding oral sex and keeping your skin away from sunlight. These days every other thing you know causes cancer and the statement “everything causes cancer” has become an exaggeration. Cancer is found in many common food items and our daily use materials and some of them have been scientifically shown to boost cancer risk to a large extent. Here is a list of 10 things that are part of your daily life which increase the risk of cancer and min:
10. Family history of cancer
Usually, it is not common for cancer to run in a family but there have been instances where many people in a family have been diagnosed with cancer. Sometime, same type of cancer in a family is traced due to inherited gene changes which increase the risk of cancer. Melanoma and breast cancer often runs in a family. If you think that cancer is common in your family, then it is often advisable to get the checkup done and take precautions at an early age.
9. Microwave popcorns
Microwave popcorns might be simple and convenient but are deadly. The chemicals lined on the microwave popcorn bags are carcinogenic which not only causes pancreatic, liver and testicular cancer but also tumor and infertility. Also, chemical inside the popcorn, Diacetyl, is also linked to causing damage to your lungs and cancer. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the chemical used in the nonstick coating on the inside of the popcorn bags that crumbles, producing a compound, known as perfluorooctanoic acid is the main cause of cancer. However, if you don’t let your popcorn cool before you open the bag, you can minimize the ill effects of microwave popcorn. This cause is more prevalent in case of factory workers who are exposed to much larger quantities of such chemicals than you would be at your home.
8.Sunlight
According to the American Cancer Society, sunlight indirectly produces Vitamin D in the human body and thus preventing it with possible proactive properties against various cancers. But too much of sunlight and exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB rays) from the sun causes cancer and other deadly diseases. Infact, skin cancer due to exposure to the UV rays is very common. Another serious cancer, Melanoma is also a result of the sun exposure. Skin cancer has also been related to exposure to some non-natural sources of UV.
7. Sunscreen Lotion
Yes, sunscreens do protect us from the harmful radiations of the sun and tanning and it often recommended by dermatologists as protect against ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) ray. Also, sunscreen has substantial amount of Vitamin D in it. However, excessive use of it may cause cancer. Chemicals in sunscreen disrupt the hormones of our body like estrogen and other hormones by blocking them. This blockage of hormone causes breast cancer in women. To reduce the risk, try covering your face with a stole or wear long-sleeves shirt and avoid using sunscreen. You can also carry an umbrella or use sunscreen containing titanium or zinc.
6.Oral Sex
Sex is not a very common cause of cancer but oral sex between men and women or same sex couples may cause cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that gets transmitted through oral sex which causes cancers like cervical cancer, cancer of mouth, vagina, anus and throat. This virus is commonly known and can easily be prevented to avoid cervical cancer. This cancer through oral sex is most commonly found in youths and studies show that 36% of oral sex is HPV positive.
5. X-Ray Radiations
With increase in the radiation, the risk of cancer increases. We are exposed to various kinds of radiations in our daily life from sunlight, while traveling in airplane, from microwaves and occasionally from X-Rays. All radiations are harmful in one way or the other but the lower is the exposure, the lesser is the risk. Medical X-Rays directly emit a strong radiation on our body parts which is likely to cause cancer. In Great Britain, 0.6% of the cancer cases are due to the radiation caused by x-rays.
4. Alcohol
Alcohol is definitely one of the most common causes of cancer. Not everyone who drinks can get cancer but drinking on a regular basis may lead so. There is no particular limit of alcohol consumption but if adhered to the guidelines given by the government, which is one standard drink daily for women and two for men then the risk can be reduced. Tracing your daily consumption of alcohol and minimizing it can help you to reduce the cancer risk. Smoking and drinking together are even worse and are the major causes of lung cancer. Every year, on an average, alcohol causes 4% of total cancer in UK, approximately 12000 cases.
3. Red meat
After rigorous studies in the past by many scientists, it has been finally concluded by the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute of Cancer Research that eating red meat increases the risk for cancer. Consumption of small amount of red meat doesn’t increase the risk of cancer but if consumed in a large quantity, it can prove bad for your health. Red meat is any fresh, crushed or iced up beef, pork or lamb and processed meat is anything that has been preserved but not through freezing which includes salami, ham and sausages. The effect on health due to red meat consumption is not uniform and depends generally on its contents of fat, its processing and preparation. It causes pancreatic cancer and on an average 41 cases per 100,000 people was found with pancreatic cancer due to red meat consumption in a year.
2. Smoking and Tobacco
Smoking is a major cause of many deadly health problems like aneurysms, heart disease and cancer. Most of the lung cancers are due to smoking. Lung cancers is the most commonly found cancer and is its treatment is the hardest. Many steps are taken to make people including children aware about the harmful effects of smoking and prevent them from doing so. However, lung cancer rates have fallen tremendously over the last 30 years. Usage of tobacco causes many types of cancer like lung cancer, cancer of the esophagus, breast cancer, cancer of the pancreas and many more. Smoking, including second hand smoke, along with tobacco consumption is one of the major causes of cervical cancer in women. Tobacco has more than fifty contents that causes cancer including nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
1. Mobile Phones
Not even ten minutes and mobile phones can damage your brain. It has been claimed by the scientists that the radiations emitted by them hinders the way brain cells divide. The radiofrequency energy released by the cell phone in the form of non-ionizing magnetic radiations heats up the brain tissue. These radiations are classified as carcinogenic by many organizations and exposure to them causes cancers of the brain, neck or nerves. Even though, it is impossible to keep yourself away from cell phone, you can always curtail its use by keeping it away while sleeping, avoid playing games and texting as the amount of radio frequency emitted depends on the extent of use, technology of phone and the distance between the user and the antenna of the phone. So, keeping your cell phone away will help to reduce the risk of cancer.
Source: http://listdose.com
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