Cancer it is the second leading cause of death in the US, behind heart disease at number one. “Most cancers are not inevitable. Genes are important, but diet and lifestyle are even more important in most cases.” says Dr. Ed Giovannucci, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.. “You can reduce your risk of cancer, and it’s never too late to start benefiting from changes.” Here are five popular habits that increase cancer risk. Read on and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure signs you’ve already had COVID.
Study after study shows that the use of tanning beds is linked to an increased risk of skin cancer. “The short answer is, yes, tanning beds are as harmful, if not more so, than the sun and there is no such thing as a safe tan.” says dermatologist Jennifer Lucas, MD. “There are many reasons to avoid tanning beds altogether… It’s that younger female age group that is really starting to have a higher risk of melanoma. It’s hard to know exactly what to attribute it to, but probably more importantly What we’re seeing is that younger women are the ones in tanning beds The safest way to get a tan is through sunless tanning Recommend store-bought or professionally made spray tans or lotions/creams for a more healthy glow.
Experts now warn that there is no amount of alcohol considered “safe” to drink. “Less than one in three Americans acknowledge alcohol as a cause of cancer,” says Harriet Rumgay, a researcher at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization. “That’s similar in other high-income countries, and it’s probably even lower in other parts of the world.”
If you spend hours sitting at work, then hours of binge-watching TV in your spare time, you’re putting yourself at risk for serious health problems, doctors say. “Sitting for a long time increases the risk of colorectal, ovarian and endometrial cancer”, says Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at MD Anderson. “At least once an hour, get up and move around. Get up while you’re on the phone or walk around the house during TV commercial breaks. A few minutes of light activity during the day can add up and help reduce your cancer risks.”
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the US, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Fifty percent of smokers die from a smoking-related disease, and the life expectancy of one in four smokers is reduced by as much as 15 to 20 years.” says Edward D. Gometz, MD. “Before the advent of widespread tobacco use in World War II, lung cancer was rare. So rare, in fact, that doctors were required to report lung cancer cases to the federal government to help identify the local environmental cause of disease.” the condition among an affected population, much like mesothelioma cases reported today. Now, it’s estimated that more than 85 percent of all lung cancers are tobacco-related.”
Research shows that a diet rich in processed junk food is strongly linked to an increased risk of cancer. “Our study findings suggest that among the estimated 80,110 new cancer cases attributable to poor diet in 2015, approximately 16% were due to obesity-mediated associations.” says Dr. Fang Fang Zhang, a cancer and nutrition researcher in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.. “For example, high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) increases the risk of obesity, and obesity increases the risk of 13 types of cancer. We estimate that more than 3,000 new cancer cases in 2015 were attributed to high consumption of SSBs. Certainly , new cancer cases that are attributable to the direct carcinogenic effects of certain foods still account for the majority (84%) of the diet-associated cancer burden in the US. These include low consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and a high consumption of red foods and processed meats.
Ferozan Mast
Ferozan Mast is a science, health, and wellness writer who is passionate about making information backed by science and research accessible to a general audience. read more
