What Are the Causes of Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. Observed worldwide in people from different walks of life, this is a type of cancer that doesn’t choose anyone. A very important way to prevent lung cancer is determining the different causes for its emergence. What are the causes of lung cancer? Here is a list of the different reasons why it can come about.

1. Smoking- It’s been established in different studies that smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. But how does it exactly become the biggest culprit in causing this type of cancer? First, there’s the sheer number of chemicals present in cigarette smoke. It’s been reported that over 4000 chemicals, including some that are carcinogenic, are present in this smoke. In addition to this, the length of time the person is smoking can be a major determining factor. It’s been discovered that people who smoke high amounts of cigarettes a day have a higher risk of having cancer. As proof of its dominant role in causing lung cancer, around 90% of all lung cancer cases are due to cigarette smoking.

2. Pollution- The air you breathe has a huge say on how your lungs will hold up in the short and long terms. Constant exposure to polluted air significantly increases the person’s risk of having lung cancer. This can be caused by 2 reasons. First, pollutants have a way of irritating the alveoli and the numerous air pathways (namely the bronchi and other subcomponents) inside the lung. Second, the different substances and chemicals found in polluted air can have an adverse effect on lung tissue. Forms of air pollution include fumes from industrial processes, vehicles, and even passive smoke from cigarettes.

3. Asbestos exposure- There used to be a time when asbestos is considered to be an important component for a lot of items, including fireproof construction materials. However, it’s been well-documented since that asbestos has the tendency to fragment to small fibers, entering the lungs, and damaging its inner structure in the process. Not only is it linked to lung cancer, but it is also linked to other chest-area cancers such as mesothelioma.

4. Other lung diseases- The presence of other lung problems can also play a big role in the development of lung cancer. Those who have lung conditions such as tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease play a big role in increasing one’s risk of having cancer of the lungs. It’s been scientifically proven that these diseases can exponentially increase one’s risk of acquiring lung cancer.

What are the causes of lung cancer? The following are just some of the most common causes out there. That said, the best way to reduce your risks of having this potentially deadly disease is to try and avoid the aforementioned causes. You must stop smoking as soon as possible, try to stay away from polluted areas, refrain from using materials made from asbestos, and treat lung conditions such as COPD and tuberculosis as soon as possible.