Smoking and Lung Cancer: Breaking the Connection

Smoking and Lung Cancer: Breaking the Connection

Lung cancer ranks among the most common and deadly cancers across the globe. However, when the topic is about lung cancer risk factors, tobacco smoking seems to be their main contributor. Tobacco smoking, in its various forms of consumption, is one of the main factors contributing to almost 85% of lung cancer cases. Lung cells can proliferate out of control and become tumours that are capable of impairing breathing, causing cancer in the lungs. As tumours enlarge, cells that are affected can multiply and reach other parts of the body. Smokers can avoid lung cancer risk and become healthier in general terms, including the respiratory system, by quitting smoking.

The link between smoking & lung cancer is undeniably strong, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive awareness and preventive measures.

Types of Tobacco Use/Abuse

With a history spanning over 12,000 years, tobacco usage is a common pastime. These are some of the ways that it is misused or utilised in the current world:

• Cigarettes: The most popular and extensively used type of tobacco, which is directly associated with lung cancer and contains dangerous substances, including nicotine and tar.
• Cigars: It is a common misconception that cigars are not as harmful as cigarettes while, in fact, they release dangerous compounds and pose a great risk of lung cancer.
• Pipe Smoking: Involving directly in smoking – it means playing a cigarette directly into the lungs, getting them soaked with carcinogens and making lung cancer very likely.
• Smokeless Tobacco: Chewing tobacco or using snuff does not involve smoke; nonetheless, it poses severe threats to oral health and causes a number of cancers, such as oral cancer and also oesophageal and pancreatic cancers.

How Does Lung Cancer Risk Grow with Smoking?

The lungs are in charge of transferring carbon dioxide out of the body’s tissues & cells and absorbing oxygen from the air we breathe in. The precise location of the gas exchange between the blood and the lungs is in tiny air sacs known as alveoli that are found throughout the lungs. Dust, smoke, water vapour, and countless other poisons, pollutants, or contaminants can all be found in the air that is inhaled. When we exhale, cough, or sneeze, microscopic cilia, or hair-like particles, function as a brush in our airways, capturing and expelling these particles.

There are five main ways that tobacco smoke damages the lungs:

1. Tar and nicotine deposits in tobacco cause slow harm to the sensitive alveoli. The alveoli regenerate gradually if smoking is moderate or if the individual stops over time. If not, there will be irreversible harm that might result in emphysema, a disease that makes breathing difficult even in a quiet state.
2. The many substances that enter the body from tobacco products cause the cilia to deteriorate and become dysfunctional over time. There is an increased risk of infection since efficient and effective filtering is no longer occurring.
3. With time, the lungs and airways become irritated and develop scar tissue, both of which make breathing challenging for the individual. Inefficient breathing reduces the amount of oxygen the body can use, which increases the risk of illness.
4. The DNA, which contains the instructions for how cells divide, develop, and behave, is harmed by the chemicals in tobacco products. Unhealthy DNA alterations occur, such as unchecked expansion, that may eventually result in a tumour.
5. Toxic substances that cling to DNA can potentially result in harmful DNA alterations. For instance, the chromium found in tobacco products raises the risk of cancer by causing other harmful compounds to adhere to DNA.

Does Breathing in Secondhand Smoke Raise Your Chance of Lung Cancer?

Yes, exposure to secondhand smoke notably elevates the risk of lung cancer. Even brief exposure to the smoke exhaled by people who smoke or are emitted from burning tobacco incorporates cancer agents that infiltrate the lungs, inflicting cellular damage and increasing the likelihood of growing lung cancers. Non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke face a heightened chance, emphasising the imperative of smoke-free environments to mitigate this risk and safeguard against the harmful consequences of involuntary tobacco exposure.

Additional Lung Conditions Affected by Smoking

In addition to lung cancer and other forms of lung diseases, smoking can also affect people with pre-existing conditions in the belly area.

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, which is the exacerbation of respiratory symptoms and complicating lung cancer treatment. The lungs have more difficulty getting oxygen for the rest of the body. The patient usually coughs mucus, has dyspnea even at rest, and wheezing while breathing sounds like whistling. It is possible to prevent COPD from getting worse, and a better treatment for it may be ensured when one quits smoking. Nonetheless, lung cancer and COPD together usually result in death.
• Pulmonary Fibrosis: The use of tobacco is one predisposing factor to pulmonary fibrosis that causes impairment and complications in the lungs, especially for lung cancer. Breathing complications are the most common symptom of pulmonary fibrosis.
• Chronic Bronchitis: This condition is common among people who smoke, the dividing line for them being swollen and irritated airways before they become obstructed by mucus and scar tissue. A smoker’s cough, a common coughing fit brought on by this condition, puts one in danger of severe diseases such as pneumonia. Although there is no cure for this disease, stopping smoking may help in reducing its symptoms and prevent further harm.
• Emphysema: The small alveoli are divided by thin walls. These walls begin to collapse due to the toxins in tobacco smoke. Larger but fewer sacs are produced during the procedure. As a result, less oxygen reaches the blood, which eventually leads to the destruction or breakdown of the alveoli as well. The person eventually reaches a stage where they need an oxygen mask or tube to breathe in the future because they are too short of breath even when they are sleeping or not moving about.

Tips For Quitting Smoking

Smokers who give up can lower their chance of developing lung cancer by quitting completely. Although stopping smoking might be difficult, a person may find it helpful to take the following steps:

• Make a Plan of Action: Set objectives, decide on a date to stop, and consider how you’ll resist urges when they arise.
• Thinking Positively: Even if a person has found prior attempts to stop smoking too challenging, maintaining a positive outlook is crucial.
• Understanding Triggers: Being aware of what sets off the urge to smoke may help individuals manage their cravings more skillfully.
• Behavioural Therapy: Cognitive-behavioural strategies and counselling can address triggers and habits associated with smoking, fostering long-term cessation.
• Lifestyle Changes: Adopt a healthier lifestyle, incorporating regular exercise, stress management techniques, & a balanced diet to support the quitting process.
• Seek Medical Support: A patient might consult a doctor for help in stopping smoking. The concerned doctor may suggest medicine to ease the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine. The chances of success can be raised by using nicotine patches and other types of nicotine replacement treatment, including chewing gum or lozenges. Engage with healthcare professionals, support groups, or counsellors specialised in smoking cessation to create a personalised quitting plan.
• Reward Yourself: Relentlessly quitting takes work. Treat yourself to something nice when you reach a milestone or stifle a need.

Why Choose Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka?

Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka, stands as an unquestionable icon of healthcare excellence with the latest technologies, a professional team of doctors and a patient-oriented stance. The hospital ensures high-quality care in various fields of specialisation, focusing on the needs and concerns of patients. Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka, also offers complete smoking cessation programmes, which include medical interventions as well as behavioural therapy and one-on-one counselling. We provide assistance and coaching to people who are finding it difficult for them to quit smoking due to their addiction towards nicotine. This encourages a smoke-free atmosphere and enhances the overall health quotient.