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Last Updated: Apr 07, 2020
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How Can We Reduce The Risk Of Cancer?
Dr. Ashish GoelOncologist • 34 Years Exp.DNB Surgical Oncology, MS Surgery, MBBS Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, MNAMS
We live in an age where every single individual, more or less, is exposed to the risk of cancer. It is probably an unfavourable lifestyle we lead that deprives us of good health. This might alarm many but considerable changes in lifestyle can help you realize cancer as a preventable disease. Cancer does not only make you undergo severe suffering but it also affects your friends and family. The pallor of misery spreads wider than you think.
Here are some of the lifestyle changes to keep cancer at bay:
- Abstain from tobacco: Consuming raw tobacco or smoking tobacco can be equally detrimental to your health. Tobacco increases your chances of contracting the disease. As is known, passive smoking can also affect your health adversely. Tobacco can be the potential cause behind cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, lungs, oral cavity and even the pancreas. It might harm your kidneys and cervix. It is upon you to quit tobacco at the earliest possible. One should also try and persuade friends and relatives to give up smoking.
- Avoid alcohol consumption: Alcohol consumption should be abstained completely. It has extremely harmful effects and it may even lead to dreaded consequences like cancer of the stomach, pancreas, liver and the heart.
- A balanced and nutritious diet: Deciding on a plant-based diet or a Mediterranean diet can aid your fight against the risk of cancer. A Mediterranean diet will involve green leafy vegetables, lots of fresh fruits, whole grains, mixed nuts, legumes and also the use of extra- virgin olive oil. Fish can be a safe bet but red meat should be avoided. One must also try to avoid processed meat as they tend to make you prone to the risk of cancer.
- Immunization: Hepatitis B and HPV or Human papillomavirus vaccines are extremely necessary to protect you against the sexually transmitted types of cancer.
- Sun protection: Caring for your skin doesn't arise from vanity. Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent kinds of cancer; the chances of this disease can be restricted by remaining in shade especially during midday, by wearing covered clothes and by using a good sunscreen lotion repeatedly while outside.
- Exercise diligently: Did you think it was okay to have weaker muscles and bulging layers of fat? If yes, you probably have grown numb to the inadequacies you face in the result. Unchecked fat can lead to obesity which further complicates health conditions. Metabolic activity differs from person to person. Regular exercising can help regulate metabolism according to the needs of your body. Physical exercise protects you against the risk of breast and colon cancer. Moderate or vigorous physical activity for 150 to 75 minutes a week respectively can reduce the risk of cancer.
The above discussed lifestyle changes have been clinically proven to improve your health and keep you away from the deadly disease like cancer. Hence, include these changes to your daily life from today to enjoy a blissful life ahead.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult a specialist & get answers to your questions!