SLEEP HYGIENE DENGUE FEVER ASTHMA ALLERGIES PREVENTION OF LUNG CANCER

QUIT SMOKING :

The majority (at least 85%) of lung cancer deaths are smoking related and therefore preventable. There may be several ways of preventing the development of lung cancer but the single most important method is to quit smoking.
Cigarette smoking is by far the most important cause of lung cancer, accounting for 80% of all new cases in women and 90% in men. Lung cancer is 10 times more likely to occur in smokers than non-smokers. The risk from smoking increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and the length of time spent smoking. Smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes contains over 4,000 harmful chemicals, 50 of them are known to cause cancer.
Even if you’ve been smoking for many years, it’s never too late to quit and reap the health benefits of going smoke-free. Quitting to smoke isn’t easy, but there is a lot of help available. Professional Counseling along with nicotine replacement therapy and other medical interventions as prescribed by the pulmonologist have been shown to be successful in helping individuals quit smoking.

AVOID SECOND HAND SMOKE :

Second hand smoke is also equally harmful. Two-thirds of the smoke from a cigarette isn’t inhaled by the smoker, but enters the air around the smoker, which is inhaled by the people present in the room/vicinity. Here are some things you can do to avoid second-hand smoke:

• Don't allow smoking in your home, car or workplace.
• Put up "no smoking" signs in your home, car and workplace.
• Support businesses and activities that are smoke-free.
• Make sure your children are not exposed to second-hand smoke at daycare or at friends’ or relatives houses.

AVOID ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION :

Environmental pollution through vehicles smoke and pollutants from refineries and manufacturing plants have also been implicated in development of lung cancer. Such exposures should be kept to the minimum possible by following the various pollution control recommendations.
Exposure to some occupational chemicals and air pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde and diesel air over a prolonged period may result in lung cancer. Best would be to avoid such exposures but if inevitable then use appropriate masks, which may reduce the concentration of the fumes to some extent. Arsenic which can be found in both surface water and groundwater sources and Radon, a gas that is undetectable, fragrance-free, and tasteless, which occurs naturally in soil, can cause damage to the lungs that may lead to lung cancer. Exposure to both should be avoided.
Asbestos, a product used in insulation and manufacturing for years, is also an important cause of lung cancer. Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring minerals that are used in some industries. Asbestos fibers have a tendency to easily shatter into small bits that can be suspended in the air and adhere to clothes. Once inhaled, they enter into the lungs, damaging cells, escalating the risk for lung cancer development. Studies have revealed that workers exposed to great amount of asbestos are 3 to 4 times more at risk of developing lung cancer than those who work in asbestos free environment.

DIET:

Some reports propose that a diet low in fruits and vegetables may amplify the risk of lung cancer in people who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. In some recent studies, high intake of beta carotene and vitamin C have been shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer. Benefits of consuming Vitamin E and selenium are under evaluation. It is believed that fruits and vegetables help protect against lung cancer

CHEMOPREVENTION:

Chemoprevention refers to the concept of reducing cancer risk in individuals who are highly susceptive to certain cancers by prescribing certain natural or chemical synthetic products or chemotherapy drugs that may reduce or suppress the process of carcinogenesis.

EXERCISE :

Regular exercise in a pollution free environment keeps the lungs healthy