Bad habits seem not too dangerous, but in the long run will be the cause of cancer, putting your health at risk. Here, let’s find out the top 10 causes of cancer from your own habits to prevent it in time!
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Causes of cancer from excessive eating habits
Binge eating habits and lack of control will make you easily gain weight. This is an unhealthy way to gain weight because it increases body fat, especially visceral fat. Being overweight affects a number of factors that increase the risk of cancer, including:
- Increases growth factor IGF-1
- Decreased immune system function
- Increased chronic, acute inflammation
- Increased levels of certain hormones, such as insulin, estrogen
Being overweight or obese can cause cancer in the such breast, colon, rectal, endometrial, esophageal, kidney, etc.
You should control the amount of food consumed, and build a diet with healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, meat, fish, and poultry.
Smoking is one of the top 10 causes of cancer
One of the causes of cancer from the daily lifestyle that men often subjective is smoking. Tobacco is a killer of lung cancer by damaging cells in the lungs.
Your body can initially heal these injuries. However, if you continue to smoke for a long time, the damage will cause the cells to function abnormally and eventually cause cancer.
Smoking habits can also cause other cancers including mouth, pharynx, nasal sinuses, and larynx.
Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of skin cancer
The habit of spending too much time in the sun or going out without sunscreen and covering can be harmful to health. The sun naturally emits the following 2 types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can damage our skin and cause skin cancer:
- UVB: This is not only the cause of skin cancer but also the main cause of other skin diseases.
- UVA: UVA has the ability to penetrate deep into the skin causing skin cells to age and causing some indirect damage to DNA cells.
Overexposure to UV rays from the sun can damage the DNA in your skin cells. The DNA damage that builds up over time causes cells to begin to grow out of control and eventually leads to skin cancer.
UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so you should limit going out during this time. At the same time, you should remember to wear thick clothes that block the sun and use sunscreen before going out.
The habit of drinking too much alcohol causes cancer
One of the habits that cause cancer is that you use too many alcoholic beverages that seriously damage the body. Alcohol, beer, and stimulants increase the risk of cancer in three ways:
Damage to DNA: Alcohol when entering the body will be converted into acetaldehyde. This is a carcinogen that damages DNA and prevents the body’s cells from repairing this damage.
Hormonal changes: Alcohol causes cancer by increasing levels of certain hormones such as estrogen and insulin, which promote cancer cell growth.
Increased absorption of toxic substances: Alcohol affects the cells of the mouth and throat, increasing the ability to absorb carcinogens.
The habit of drinking too much alcohol can be a cause of mouth cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, laryngeal cancer, breast cancer, bowel cancer, and liver cancer.
If you have a habit of smoking and drinking a lot of alcohol, your risk of cancer will increase many times. Therefore, protect your health by limiting or avoiding these harmful agents.
Eating foods high in sugar leads to cancer
All cells in the body need sugar (glucose) to use or store energy. Sugar is what helps the body function properly, and the habit of eating foods high in sugar does not make cancer cells grow faster.
However, the habit of consuming a lot of sugary foods makes you more likely to gain weight or become obese. Research shows that being overweight or obese is one of the main causes of cancer. Therefore, you should eat foods containing a lot of sugar in moderation, especially when you are overweight.
Unhealthy processed meat
Many people have a habit of eating processed meat to save time or because they like the taste of processed foods. Certain chemicals in red meat, which are often added during processing or cooking, can also cause cancer, including:
Haem: This is a red pigment found naturally in red meat that can damage cells and cause bacteria in the body to produce harmful chemicals. This increases the risk of cancer, especially bowel cancer.
Nitrites: These are chemicals used to preserve processed meat longer. Once in the body, nitrites are converted into cancer-causing chemicals (N-nitroso compounds or NOCs).
Heterocyclic and polycyclic amines: These occur when meat is cooked to high temperatures, such as grilling, and can damage cells in the intestines.
Red meat and processed meat are the main cancer-causing foods if you eat too much. You can combine white meats like chicken and fish to reduce the risk of cancer.
Unsafe sex can cause cancer
Sex has many health benefits such as reducing stress, boosting the immune system, or even reducing the risk of developing certain cancers.
However, if you have unprotected sex with someone who already has an STI, this is the cause of cancer that can be life-threatening. In particular, the human papillomavirus (HPV) can be spread through unprotected sex. Currently, there are 15 high-risk strains of HPV (such as strains 16 and 18) that cause pre-cancer, uterine cancer, anal cancer, etc.
Along with protection when having sex, you should get vaccinated against HPV whether you are male or female to limit the risk of infection and cancer.
Along with protection when having sex, you should get vaccinated against HPV whether you are male or female to limit the risk of infection and cancer.
Inactivity is also a cause of cancer
Inactivity is one of the most common cancer-causing habits, especially breast cancer. Exercise helps to consume, control blood sugar and limit the growth of insulin in the blood (the hormone that affects the growth of breast cells). Fat cells make estrogen, so having high amounts of body fat increases your risk of developing breast cancer.
Research shows that regular exercise of moderate or high intensity for 4 to 7 hours per week reduces the risk of breast cancer. Exercise habits will help you maintain a healthy BMI to prevent many diseases.
BMI is the ratio of a person’s weight and height. A healthy BMI is usually between 18.5 and 24.9. BMI between 25 and 29.5 is considered overweight, and BMI over 30 is obese. Therefore, you need to exercise regularly to maintain a healthy BMI level to reduce the risk of cancer.
Use water that is too hot
According to research published in the International Journal of Cancer, people who have a habit of drinking tea at temperatures above 60°C have a higher risk of esophageal cancer than those who drink tea below 60°C. This is a rather high temperature than usual.
The habit of drinking hot tea itself won’t cause cancer, but if you combine it with other risk factors, it increases your risk of developing certain types of cancer:
- Drink alcohol
- Smoke
- Unhealthy diet
- Exposure to polluted air
This can be understood that because the tea is too hot, it will damage the lining of the esophagus, making it easier for other carcinogens such as alcohol and cigarette smoke to penetrate and cause harm. Not only tea but other drinks should also be used at a moderate temperature while avoiding other bad habits.
Exposure to toxic cleaning chemicals
Currently, there are many cleaning products on the market that use cleaning chemicals such as dishwashing liquid, laundry soap, toilet cleaner… These products contain many artificial chemicals such as ammonia, ethylene glycol monobutyl acetate, etc. sodium hypochlorite, or trisodium phosphate. They can cause skin and eye irritation, damage to the respiratory system by direct contact or inhalation, potentially carcinogenic, and can be extremely toxic to both humans and animals if accidentally introduced into the body.
When using cleaners, always wear rubber gloves to protect your skin. Besides, you should ensure good air circulation in the room to reduce the concentration of chemicals in the air.
You should maintain the habit of cleaning items and cleaning the house every day. To avoid harmful cleaning chemicals, you should choose plant-based cleaning products that are safe for both children and adults.
Final thought
That’s the top 10 causes of cancer you need to know, make sure you take good care of yourself by weeding out these bad habits that are mentioned above. You should do more exercise, get enough sleep, and have a healthy diet to lead a productive and energetic life.
Top News hopes this article can help you learn more about the top 10 causes of cancer and that it’s time for you to keep your habit in check for the sake of your healthy life.
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