5 Cancer-Producing Habits: Know Now
Cancer is a threatening word in and of itself. Cancer was the second biggest cause of death worldwide in 2018, according to a World Health Organization report, “responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in every six deaths.” Lung cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer, oral cancer, stomach or colon cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer are the most frequent cancers. In today’s world, one of the primary causes of cancer is a poor lifestyle.
Let’s Take a Look at Some of the Behaviors That Can Make You More Likely to Develop Cancer.
Obesity
Obesity, according to a study, increases the risk of cancer by a significant amount. There is a shift in inflammation and hormone levels as a result of excessive weight and obesity. It has the potential to influence biochemicals in the body, such as insulin. Therefore, taking care of one’s body is critical to one’s long-term health. A sedentary lifestyle may raise the risk of cancer, according to Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Depending on the intensity of the exercise, you should exercise for at least one to three hours every week. It’s especially crucial to obtain enough exercise if you work a sedentary job.
Stress
While stress does not cause cancer directly, the body’s response to stress—such as high blood pressure, accelerated heart rate, and elevated blood sugar levels—can inevitably lead to cancer if left untreated, according to the National Cancer Institute. People under duress may adopt unhealthy behaviors like “smoking, overeating, or drinking alcohol,” which has led to the discovery of correlations between psychological stress and cancer in recent years.
Tobacco and Alcoholic Drinks
People who smoke heavily are 10 years older than those who do not, according to the American Cancer Society. At the same time, excessive alcohol use raises the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, liver, and breast. It’s great to have a drink every now and again, but when you have more than one or two drinks every day, difficulties arise. Overdrinking has been related to an increased risk of throat, liver, colon, and breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. So, when you’re out and about, remember to pace yourself and set limits.
Too Much Time Spent Sitting
According to a review published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2014, the risk of colon cancer, endometrial cancer, and lung cancer increased by 8%, 10%, and 6%, respectively, for every two additional hours of sedentary exercise each day. Even if the sound of your favorite late-night TV is the only thing that gets you to sleep, you should break this harmful habit. According to a 2010 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, the artificial light emitted by your television is connected to both breast and prostate cancer. “A number of factors, including light at night, are likely to have contributed to the rise in breast cancer during the last few decades.”
Sunlight Exposure
Each year, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer than with all other malignancies combined. One of the main causes is UV radiation from the sun. Most people believe that unless they’re going out, they don’t need to wear sunscreen. However, this misunderstanding is leading to an increase in skin cancer incidence. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, you should apply SPF all year, regardless of the season or weather, to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Apply sunscreen and protective clothing while you’re outside for long periods of time, and seek shade wherever possible to lower your risk.