We all know that smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, but a recent report shows that even people who don’t smoke are getting it too. Crazy, right?
Cigarettes are definitely bad for your health and increase the risk of lung cancer, but it turns out that air pollution is a huge factor for non-smokers. A study published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine Journal highlights this issue, and it’s pretty alarming.
So, why are non-smokers getting lung cancer? According to the study released on World Cancer Day (February 4), lung cancer cases are rising fast among people who have never smoked. This trend is especially noticeable in South East Asian countries like India, China, and Thailand. In 2022 alone, around 2.5 million people were diagnosed, with women being particularly affected.
The research found that adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that starts in the mucus and fluid-producing glands, was behind 6 out of 10 lung cancer cases from 2020 to 2022. Lung cancer is now the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, so it’s super important to protect yourself from pollution as much as you can.
Here are some symptoms of lung cancer to watch out for:
- Persistent cough
- Chest pain
- Sudden weight loss
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing up blood
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this article in the comments! If you found it interesting, feel free to share it and stick around for more articles on Harzindagi!
