In my country, the mortality rate of lung cancer ranks first among malignant tumors, both male and female. In recent years, the number of people with lung cancer in my country has remained high, and the largest proportion of them are middle-aged and elderly people. Early-stage lung cancer is not very obvious. Most patients have reached the middle and late stages when they are diagnosed. If they receive treatment at this time, the effect may not be as good as before.

So far, there is no standard answer to the cause of this cancer, which is generally related to heredity, environment, bad living habits, and chronic diseases. It is well known that smoking can increase the risk of lung cancer, but this is not the only factor, there may be several reasons.

In addition to smoking, what other causes of lung cancer?

1. Family inheritance

Most cancers are inseparable from heredity, including lung cancer. If you have a lung cancer case in your immediate family, especially parents, siblings or children, your risk of developing lung cancer is several times higher than that of the general population.

2, chronic lung disease

with bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and tuberculosis, etc. , It has been dragged on without treatment, and the lung tissue and mucous membranes are continuously stimulated, causing mucous membrane canceration over time, so it is necessary to actively treat chronic lung diseases. At the same time, pay more attention to your own symptoms. If you have hoarseness, chest tightness, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and dry cough, you need to go to the hospital for investigation immediately.

3. Occupational factor

Part of the occurrence of lung cancer is also related to occupations. For example, radon gas released from building materials for a long time can damage the cells in the lungs and cause mutations in the genes of lung cells; in mills, mines, shipyards and textile factories When workers are exposed to asbestos, asbestos fibers can enter the small airways or the lining of blood vessels in the lungs and directly destroy cells, thereby inducing lung cancer.

4. Air pollution

The risk of lung cancer among residents living in industrialized areas High, because there are too many harmful substances suspended in the air, especially hydrocarbons and radioactive substances, and long-term exposure to this environment can increase the risk of lung cancer.

What are the early symptoms of lung cancer?

1. Cough

Cough is the first symptom of most lung cancer patients, because the tumor can irritate the bronchi, This causes an irritating dry cough, with no or little sputum when coughing, and sometimes coughing up thick sputum.

2. Blood in sputum

Tumor contains too many blood vessels, coughing At this time, the blood vessels around the tumor can be ruptured, resulting in bleeding, and the blood is discharged with the cough, resulting in blood in the sputum.

3, stridor

As the tumor grows, it can block the bronchi and reduce lung function, resulting in chest tightness and shortness of breath, accompanied by stridor.

4. Arm pain

Some patients sought medical attention because of arm pain, and the result was diagnosed Lung cancer, common in apical lung cancer. In addition, some lung cancer patients also have clubbing fingers, which are like clubs and accompanied by severe pain.

Message from the doctor

Lung cancer caused by genetic factors It cannot be reversed, but it can actively prevent acquired factors. Keep away from cigarettes and second-hand smoke; install a powerful range hood in the kitchen, turn on the range hood before cooking, and turn off the range hood 5-10 minutes after cooking. Remind yourself to drink more water, the amount of water a day should not be less than 2000 ml, which can lubricate the lungs and respiratory tract.

Regularly open windows in the living room for ventilation, and adjust the indoor humidity and temperature. People who are over 40 years old; have lung cancer cases in the family; suffer from respiratory diseases; people who smoke for a long time and are exposed to high pollution environments should go to the hospital regularly for low-dose spiral CT screening of the chest to facilitate early detection of lung cancer.

Family doctor online feature, unauthorized reprint