How can we prevent cancer
Health / / December 19, 2019
Cardiovascular disease - the main cause of death in Russia. From heart problems died millions, not even realizing that the development of the disease can be prevented and controlled. He had only to go on a proper diet, do exercise and quit smoking since age and genetics, we can not influence.
About how people think about cancer: nothing canbe done. To some extent this is true. In some tissues the cancer appears more often than others. But there is a clear relationship between the rate of cell division and cancer riskVariation in cancer risk among tissues can be explained by the number of stem cell divisions. .
In other words, the more the DNA is copied, the greater the probability of error in the new division. Therefore, many people think that cancer - when it was not lucky, and there is nothing you can do about it.
But things are not so simple. For example, lung cells divide rarely, but lung cancer - one of the most common. In the gastrointestinal tract cells divide continuously, but the number of cancer cases is comparable to the number of lung cancer diseases. Melanoma, in theory, should occur for reasons not dependent on us, but the main reason for it - the solar radiation.
Let researchers study what the fabric is exposed to cancer. We need to concentrate on the fact that change in his lifestyleSo as not to get sick.
A recent study in the journal NatureSubstantial contribution of extrinsic risk factors to cancer development. It showed that we can do much. Environment and external factors affect cancer. Diet affects colorectal cancer. Alcohol and smoking - to esophageal cancer. Papillomavirus - cervical cancer, hepatitis C - liver cancer.
And it must be to live on a desert island, not to know that smoking causes lung cancer, and excess sun - skin cancer.
Genetics and others beyond our reason to blame only 30% of cancer cases. The remaining 70% we can prevent.
What affects the risk of disease
In the study, the journal JAMAPreventable Incidence and Mortality of Carcinoma Associated With Lifestyle Factors Among White Adults in the United States. Scientists have tried to assess how our habits affect the appearance of cancer. They considered the four main factors that negatively affect health:
- smoking;
- alcohol;
- excess weight;
- lack of sports.
People who take care of themselves and are not tied to bad habits to fall into the low-risk group. They were compared with those in a group of healthy lifestyle does not include fans. To involve people who have been under the supervision of scientists - they participated in other studies.
Of the 90 000 women and 46 000 men identified low-risk group. After that, the researchers calculated the population risk for each type of cancer. That is to say, how many people could get sick if the changed behavior. It turned out that:
- 82% of women and 78% of men with cancer of the lungs, may never encounter it.
- 29% of women and 20% of men can avoid bowel cancer.
- 30% of men and women could not be ill with pancreatic cancer.
Breast cancer, for example, to prevent more complicated: not more than 4% of cases.
Overall figures are: 25% women and 33% of men can not get sick. Approximately half of all deaths could be prevented.
Studies are imperfect, no exceptions. It is not a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which is considered the standard of evidence-based medicine. The subjects are mainly working in health care, that is different from the general population. But the results show an approximate scale of how health is affected by our habits.
Just do not think that cancer patients themselves to blame, and do not deserve help. This is just information for reflection, because still a huge number of cases of cancer we can not control.
How to protect against cancer
What you need to do to be in a group with a low risk to health?
- To quit and hold for at least five years.
- Limit the use of alcohol. Women can not be more than one dose per day, men - more than two. This is quite a lot. The less you drink, the better.
- Keep the body mass index in the range 18,5-27,5 points. Obesity starts with 30 points, but still, after 25 - is overweight. However, do not necessarily have to be thin enough not to lead to obesity.
- 150 minutes per week devote moderate training or 75 - active. Not so much.
Many people are happy to learn that they have low chances of getting cancer. But that is no reason not strive for the best.
We wait, when there will be a magic cure for cancer. Not the fact that rain or that it will not cost millions. A preventive - the cheap and effective means. Simple changes in lifestyle will not only help in the fight against cancer, but also in the prevention of other diseases. So to put forces in themselves and enjoy health.