Lung Cancer Awareness Month is observed every year in the month of November to spread awareness about lung cancer. This is a form of cancer that begins as a growth of cells in the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.
According to World Cancer Research Fund International, there were more than 2.2 million new cases of lung cancer in 2020 globally. Along with that, lung cancer caused nearly 1.
8 million deaths and it is the second most common cancer in the world. Lung cancer has a high fatality rate and therefore, spotting the early signs can be beneficial as it can help in early diagnosis and treatment. There are several factors that increase your risk of lung cancer.
Here, take a look at some of the factors. Air Pollution Breathing in polluted air, especially in cities with high traffic and industrial activity, exposes people to harmful particles like dust, soot and chemicals. These can settle in the lungs, thereby, causing inflammation and increasing the risk of respiratory diseases, including lung cancer.
Pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide can damage lung tissue over time, making it more susceptible to disease. Secondhand Smoke Even if you don’t smoke, breathing in secondhand smoke which is exposure to the smoke from others poses significant health risks. The chemicals in cigarette smoke damage lung cells, thereby, increasing the risk of cancer.
Regular exposure to secondhand smoke can increase a non-smoker’s risk of lung.