If an individual has persistent cough, then cancer can be seen as a possibility among many other health complications, especially for those with a habit of smoking.   |  Photo Credit: iStock Images
Key Highlights
- Characterised by uncontrolled growth of cells and development of a tumour, cancer can over its stages spread across the body to become metastatic.
- As a result, treatment becomes further complicated and the odds of prevention mitigate.
- Globally, colon, breast and prostate cancers are the most common forms of this disease.
New Delhi: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally – as of data released in February 2022. Across its various forms, cancer is a disease that grows over time, through stages, and then starts to show symptoms. Characterised by uncontrolled growth of cells and development of a tumour, cancer can over its stages spread across the body to become metastatic. As a result, treatment becomes further complicated and the odds of prevention mitigate. Globally, colon, breast and prostate cancers are the most common forms of this disease. Yet, experts link an early morning sign strongly to cancer risk.
Are you waking up to a cancer alarm?
When one wakes up in the morning, the first thing is going to the loo to take a dump or to pee; whereas some people wake up to bouts of sneezing or a running nose or cough. However, one rarely feels fatigued along with these symptoms unless suffering from the flu or sleep-deprived. Yet, experts believe that when the cough is accompanied by fatigue first thing in the morning, it could be a sign of cancer.
If an individual has a persistent cough, then cancer can be seen as a possibility among many other health complications, especially for those with a habit of smoking. If this continues for weeks, experts recommend getting it checked by a doctor. Other than this, waking up with a persistent sore throat for a period of over two weeks with no signs of improvement could also be a sign of cancer.
What are the leading causes of cancer?
As explained by the WHO, the leading causes are exposure to carcinogens and tobacco smoke. Besides this, other causes include:
- Genetics
- Family history
- Smoking tobacco
- Alcohol
- Exposure to ionizing radiation
- Exposure to chemical carcinogens or biological carcinogens like bacteria, viruses or parasites
- Contact with water contaminant arsenic
How to reduce cancer risk?
Cancer symptoms and causes can differ basis the form of the disease that one is struggling with. In the early stages, tumour can start to develop inside the body, and soon, the cancer cells can spread to various body parts to become malignant. Factors like an unhealthy diet, lack of physical exercise and exposure to air pollution are also driving factors strongly linked to cancer – in 2018, 13 per cent of cancer cases were attributed to carcinogenic infections like hepatitis B and C or human papillomavirus. To mitigate cancer risk, one can try to switch to a more balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle, abstain from alcohol and tobacco and avoid radiation exposure.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.