Table of contents:
- How to prevent lung cancer
- 1. Do not smoke
- 2. Stay away from cigarette smoke
- 3. Check your home for exposure to radon
- 4. Be aware of exposure to carcinogens
- 5. Increase your intake of vegetables and fruit
One of the main causes of lung cancer is smoking. However, that does not mean that people who don't smoke are not at risk of lung cancer. Apart from smoking, there are several other things that can be the cause of this disease, including secondhand smoke exposure, exposure to dangerous chemicals, or family health history factors. Check out some of the ways to prevent lung cancer that can be done below.
How to prevent lung cancer
Actually, there is no definite way that can be considered as a prevention against lung cancer. However, there are several things that can be done to reduce the risk of this disease, including:
1. Do not smoke
For those of you who have never smoked, it is highly recommended not to try it at all. This is because smoking is one of the main causes of lung cancer.
However, if you are used to smoking, it's never too late to stop the habit. In fact, according to research from New England Journal of Medicine, quitting smoking before the age of 40 can reduce the risk of death from smoking by up to 90%.
In addition, quitting smoking can also be a preventive measure against lung cancer by reducing the risk of up to two-thirds for smokers who quit at the age of 54.
Therefore, not smoking is still an effective solution to prevent lung cancer. You can also do routine screening to see the risk of lung cancer in your body.
There are many ways to quit smoking. If you are confused, please ask your doctor what is the most appropriate way to completely get rid of this tobacco trap.
2. Stay away from cigarette smoke
After you have succeeded in not smoking cigarettes out of your own mouth, it is time to stay away from secondhand smoke. Even if you quit smoking, the smoke inhaled from other people is just as dangerous.
So, one way that is quite effective as a prevention against lung cancer is to stay away from cigarette smoke. This is because the smoke emitted and inhaled by passive smokers is as much smoke as inhaled by active smokers.
This means that the risk of passive smokers developing lung cancer is as great as the risk that is owned by active smokers. Especially if you live or are in an environment full of cigarette smoke every day.
If you experience symptoms of lung cancer, don't hesitate to have your health checked by a doctor. Consulting a doctor also includes lung cancer prevention efforts that can be done.
3. Check your home for exposure to radon
Even if your family doesn't smoke, you are still at risk of developing lung cancer. The reason is that besides smoking, one of the causes of lung cancer is radon.
Radon is an odorless gas produced by the decomposition of natural uranium in the soil right under your house. The only way to see if you and other family members are at risk is to check radon levels at home.
By regularly checking radon exposure at home, you have done one way to prevent lung cancer. If it turns out that the level of radon in the house is high, you can install exhaust fan to get this gas out of the house.
4. Be aware of exposure to carcinogens
Some occupations have a high enough risk level for lung cancer because of routine exposure to carcinogens.
Apart from workplaces that are exposed to a lot of chemicals, it is not uncommon for these workers to work while smoking and do not pay attention to worker safety regulations.
So, when you work in a vulnerable place like this, check and follow the safety rules set out in your workplace. Don't forget to start smoking now as a prevention against lung cancer.
5. Increase your intake of vegetables and fruit
Just like various other diseases, it is better to do prevention than to have to undergo lung cancer treatment. So, while you are still healthy, take various precautions against this disease.
Preventing lung cancer by reducing its risk must also be accompanied by a healthy diet, which is eating lots of fruits and vegetables. You can choose a different fruit menu each day based on the color or type of your favorite fruits and vegetables.
Try to reduce the consumption of processed meats and cheeses that contain inorganic phosphates as they are thought to increase the potential for lung cancer.
Although the main prevention of lung cancer has not been found, you can do these prevention methods in your daily life. If you are in doubt, consult your doctor first and do a screening test to get a more definite answer.
