Lung Cancer Causes – The Most Common Causes This Dangerous Condition
The causes of many types of cancer remain unknown. However, this is not the case with lung cancer. As long as you are aware of the lung cancer causes, you will be able to take effective measures for prevention. This condition causes the largest number of cancer deaths, but it is also the most preventable one as well.
The main cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoking. It has been estimated that between 85% and 90% of all cases are caused by smoking. Tobacco contains over 4,000 chemical compounds and many of them are harmful to the human body. It is equally true that a large number of these chemical compounds can lead to the growth of tumor cells in the lungs. There are two of them that have been identified as the primary carcinogenic substances in tobacco. These are the nitrosamines and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
The risk of developing the condition increases with the number of packs you smoke per day and the number of years you smoke. In general, a smoker is 25 times more likely to get the disease than someone who does not smoke. Happily, the risk for getting lung cancer in people who have ceased smoking reaches the risk level of non-smokers after 15 years of cessation.
Pipe smoking and cigar smoking are also among the most notable lung cancer causes. Still, these smokers that do not use cigarettes are only 5 times more likely to develop the condition compared to nonsmokers.
Passive smoking is another one of the most common lung cancer causes. Currently, around 3,000 lung cancer deaths a year are attributed to passive smoking. Second hand smokers are individuals who reside with smokers and share living quarters, in which cigarette smoke is present. Their risk of developing the condition is approximately 24% higher compared to the risk nonsmokers stand.
Exposure to asbestos can also lead to the development of cancer in the lungs. This material, used in construction, contains dangerous silicate fibers that can be inhaled during work. The risk for developing the condition of nonsmoking individuals exposed to asbestos is 5 times greater than in nonsmokers. It should be pointed out that the use of this material in many countries has been banned.
Exposure to radon gas, released during the natural decay of uranium products, is another one of the common lung cancer causes. It is responsible for 12% of the deaths from this condition. It has been estimated that 1 of every 15 homes in the US alone has dangerous level of radon gas.

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