Stomach, or gastric, cancer is one of the most common types of cancer globally, and although its incidence varies by region, certain factors can significantly increase one’s risk. The disease develops in the lining of the stomach and can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated, it can form a mass (tumour) and grow deeper into the stomach walls. The tumour may spread to nearby organs like your liver and pancreas.
So what causes stomach cancer? However, researchers and health experts don’t know exactly what makes cancer cells start growing in the stomach. But they do know a few things that can raise your risk for the disease. One of them is excessive salt intake.
Excessive salt intake has been found to irritate the stomach lining, making it more susceptible to cancer-causing agents. Research suggests that high sodium levels can damage the stomach lining, leading to chronic inflammation and an increased vulnerability to cancer. We got in touch with Dr Amit Javed, Director, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram who explains that salt can cause the stomach’s mucosal lining to break down, making it more susceptible to infection by Helicobacter pylori (H.
pylori), a bacterium strongly associated with stomach cancer. This chronic infection can lead to gastric ulcers, which, over time, may develop into cancerous lesions. A 2019 study published in The Lancet found that diets high in salt were associated with a higher incidence of stom.
