What lung cancer prevention steps can you take
By taking appropriate measures, it is possible to lower the chances of getting lung cancer. Since there is no reliable cure for the disease, lung cancer prevention assumes great importance. Here are some of the lung cancer prevention steps to take in order to maximize the odds of remaining disease free.
Quit smoking
Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. It is best to never take up smoking in the first place, because it wrecks havoc in the body. If you are a smoker, do everything possible to quit completely, at the earliest. Of course, take professional assistance if that is needed.
Stopping smoking has so many health benefits that it is hard to overemphasize its importance.
If stopping completely proves too daunting, the number of smokes per day should be reduced as much as possible. That offers benefits as well, although not as much as staying away from tobacco completely.
The good news is, the lungs start repairing the damage from years of smoking as soon as the person stops smoking. And with each year the former smoker remains free of the habit, the odds of developing diseases drops. Quitting smoking is a critical step in lung cancer prevention.
Stop being a passive smoker
Passive smoking, or inhaling second hand smoke from other smokers is also known to drastically increase the risks of getting lung cancer. The danger is compounded since passive smokers inhale unfiltered cigarette smoke.
There is hope for passive smokers since there is worldwide trend to ban smoking in all kinds of public spaces like airports, restaurants, workplaces, trains and so on. This is an important lung cancer prevention step and is gathering momentum in many countries around the world.
Stay away from polluted air
This is a tough one and may not always feasible. There is increasing evidence that heavily polluted air from industries and automobiles is a contributor to lung cancer and many other kinds of diseases. If you do have an option, choose to stay away from areas with high levels of air pollution.
Stay away from carcinogens including radon and asbestos Asbestos causes a specific type of lung cancer called mesothelioma, which is a malignant growth in the lining of the lungs. If you suspect your house contains asbestos, you can call in an asbestos consultant who will go over your home and make recommendations. Radon is another known carcinogen. Many homes contain accumulations of radon, particularly in the basement areas. Radon detection kits are available from hardware stores - they are quite inexpensive. These kits will measure the level of radon in homes. Homeowners can then take corrective action if the levels of radon are too high. Other known sources of carcinogens include tobacco products, which may contain certain banned chemicals. Avoiding tobacco altogether is an important lung cancer prevention measure.
