5 Risk Factors You Can Control
Lung cancer and lung disease can affect anyone at any age. Certain risk factors can increase your chances of developing lung cancer, but with simple lifestyle changes and preventative measures, you can decrease your risk.
1- Smoking & Tobacco Usage
Smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer in the United States. According to the CDC, approximately 85% of lung cancer deaths can be connected to a history of tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.
The longer you use tobacco products, the more your risk of developing lung cancer increases. Decreasing the amount of time you spend smoking may slightly decrease your risk, however, the only way to significantly minimize your health risk is to quit smoking and eliminate all tobacco-related products.
Tobacco products, specifically cigarettes, can cause cancer anywhere in your body, including:
2- Radon Exposure
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium in soil and rocks.
Radon exposure is less of a concern in outdoor settings. However, indoor places, such as the basement or garage, cause radon to be more concentrated which causes a higher concern for exposure.
It is important to get your home tested for radon and take steps to reduce radon levels if they are high.
3- Secondhand Smoke Exposure
According to the American Cancer Society, the third most common cause of lung cancer in the United States is secondhand smoke. If possible, it is recommended to avoid areas where smoking is allowed. You can also decrease your exposure to secondhand smoke by not allowing it in your home or vehicles.
4- Carcinogen Exposure at the Workplace
Some carcinogens that you could be exposed to in the workplace include:
- radioactive ores, such as uranium
- inhaled chemicals, such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, silica, vinyl chloride, nickel compounds, chromium compounds, coal products, mustard gas, and chloromethyl ethers
- diesel exhaust
It is important that you follow the health and safety guidelines put in place by your company to decrease your exposure to carcinogens in the workplace.
5- Contaminated Drinking Water
Drinking contaminated water that is contaminated with arsenic can increase your risk of developing lung cancer.
Arsenic is commonly found in water in areas of Southeast Asia and South America. Arsenic levels are not typically a concern for Americans on a public water system. However, it is recommended that those with private wells, usually in rural communities, get their water tested for arsenic and implement a filter system if the levels come back high.
Other Risk Factors
Personal or Family History
If you had lung cancer before, you are at an increased risk of developing it again later in life. Siblings and children of people who have been diagnosed with lung cancer also have a slightly higher risk of developing lung cancer at some point in their life. The risk is slightly higher if your relative was diagnosed in their early life. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider if you have any personal or family history of lung cancer.
Marijuana Usage & E-Cigarettes
Marijuana products have been found to have similar cancer-causing substances as many tobacco products, such as tar. Currently, it is unknown the direct risk that marijuana usage has with lung cancer and lung disease due to the change of legal status of the products in recent years. However, marijuana products are inhaled deeply which increases the chance of cancer-causing substances to deposit in your lungs.
Many e-cigarettes contain nicotine which causes them to be classified as a “tobacco product” by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). It is currently unknown the direct risk to lung cancer and lung disease that e-cigarettes have, however, the FDA states that there are health risks, such as lung damage, associated with the usage of these products.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with lung cancer or lung disease, there are many treatment options depending on the type of lung cancer and how far it has spread. Talk to your provider about the treatment options available for your type and stage of cancer.
To schedule an appointment with one of our pulmonology specialists, call our clinic at (402) 844-8190.
402-371-4880