LUNG CANCER: Causes Of This Condition Aside From Smoking

Here are the other causes of lung cancer aside from smoking

LUNG CANCER – Smoking is not the lone factor why a person can have this lung condition. Here are the other things that cause lung cancer.

lung cancer
Photo courtesy of Health Europa

VAPING

Many perceive that vaping is a healthy alternative to smoking. Though there had been several reported dangers caused by vaping, this is still popular, especially among millennials. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracked an outbreak of lung disease (2,051 so far) and deaths (39) linked to vaping (as of November 2019). This will eventually lead to cancer of the lungs, according to the article from The Healthy.

SECONDHAND SMOKING

Even if you don’t smoke but you are always around people who are smoking, you will likely to have cancer of the lungs because of this. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent, according to the estimation of the CDC. However, people who are smoking have 13 (women) and 23 (men) times more likely to get lung cancer.

AIR POLLUTION

Polluted air, especially small particles such as PM2.5 produced by car exhaust, power plants, and wildfires can lead to a higher risk of lung, breast, and other cancers, according to research. Charles Powell, MD, a professor of medicine and system chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Mt. Sinai said that this factor can also lead to acute health problems such as asthma.

RADON

The CDC describes radon as a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil, and groundwater. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this causes about 2,900 deaths among people who never smoked in the US.

ASBESTOS

Asbestos is one of the things that increase your chances of getting lung cancer, based on the statement from the American Cancer Society. Dr. Powell explained that this requires long-term high-intensity exposure, mostly because of occupational exposure.

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

This is a group of lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Having these diseases can increase the risk of getting cancer of the lungs. According to the article, a lifetime of smoking is the main cause of COPD.

FAMILY HISTORY

As they say, it runs in the family. Having a member of the family who has lung cancer can lead to a higher risk to acquire this illness for other family members.

READ ALSO: LUNG CANCER SYMPTOMS – 9 Signs That Indicate Possible Lung Cancer

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