[Lifestyle] Cancer: 6 Lifestyle Changes You Need to Make to Prevent The Deadly Disease

[#Hassan.]

Cancer incidence and mortality are rising worldwide with cancer being one of the top three causes of mortality in the world. Head & neck cancer and breast cancer are the commonest cancer in our country. Lifestyle and environmental factors cause about 80% of total cancers, the rest being caused by genetic factors. Also Read - Sattu: The Desi Superfood And Why You Must Include It In Your Summer Diet

Dr. Nikhil Kalyani, Consultant Radiation Oncology, Jaslok Hospital, and Research, Mumbai shares his inputs on lifestyle factors that are leading causes for cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality. The commonest factors are smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity, obesity, and diet (red meat, fried food). Economic development and demographic changes have caused a rise in lifestyle-related cancers like head neck cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, etc. Also Read - Horoscope, February 20, 2021: Virgos to Look For Matrimony, Aries to Have a Lazy Day

Tobacco consumption (smoking and smokeless) is the commonest factor causing approximately 20% of cancer worldwide most common being head neck and lung cancer. Tobacco consumption alone can cause about 10 types of cancers. Obesity and high caloric diet can cause cancers like breast, endometrium, and colorectal cancer. A sedentary lifestyle with less physical activity has a multiplier effect on cancer development with other factors. Also Read - Side-Effects of Coffee: Stop Consuming The Beverage if You Have These Health Issues

Cancer incidence in developed societies can be reduced by half with primary prevention and modifying lifestyle mainly lung and breast cancer.