Cancer is a general term for many forms of the disease. From lung cancer to stomach cancer and everything in between, one resounding truth remains: cancer is destructive, costly, and can be prevented; or rather, the risk can be significantly lowered by making a few lifestyle changes.
Nearly ten million people die from cancer every year all over the world. In order to avoid becoming a statistic and reduce your risk of getting cancer, you’ll want to follow this handy guide. We’ll cover everything from ditching bad habits like smoking to moving around more and preventing obesity. It’s time to take control and reduce your risk of contracting one of the most painful and devastating conditions to plague mankind.
Quit Smoking
This is a tip that shouldn’t even need to be stated given the mountain of scientific evidence that has proven just how harmful smoking cigarettes can be. Tobacco products even come with a warning label written directly on the packaging that warns of potential cancer! And yet, some 500,000 still perish every year from smoking-related cancers and diseases and millions still use tobacco products on a daily basis.
Cigarettes are home to thousands of harmful chemicals, of which nearly one hundred have been directly linked to cancer in humans. These carcinogens are inhaled through the lungs and distributed throughout the body by the bloodstream, effectively making their way to every major organ and tissue structure.
Quitting smoking can reduce your chances of developing cancer by about half, experts believe. As soon as you take your first drag, your risk increases significantly, and the more you smoke, the higher the risk. Once you put down the cigarettes for good, your body begins to heal and your immune system improves.
Thousands of people quit smoking every year, and with so many resources available, the process is easier than ever. Certain products like CBD oil have even been shown to make the cessation process easier by blocking the receptors responsible for nicotine addiction!
Avoid Frozen and Processed Foods
Frozen or processed foods are loaded with preservatives; some of which have actually been linked to cancers in adults and children. A healthy diet is crucial to the overall health of the body, and when you’re filling yourself up with junk, your risk for all kinds of health problems increases significantly.
Things like TV dinners, processed meats, and convenience foods are responsible for health complications like cancer. While they might help with time constraints, you’re sacrificing your health for just a few extra minutes. Cooking a healthy meal with fresh ingredients is something that benefits both the body and the mind.
Good foods help improve mental health as well. Avoid frozen and processed foods as much as possible to decrease your risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other complications.
Exercise
While you’re focusing on a healthy diet, it’s time to look at your exercise routine as well. We live in a sedentary society, with plenty of digital distraction to keep us rooted to our couches. The average person watches about six hours of video per day and spends at least 1-2 hours on their smartphone. This is one-quarter of a full day spent sitting in one place watching videos.
The problem with lethargy is that it not only packs on weight but it can also cause heart complications, exhaustion, and even increase the risk of cancer. Exercising for at least one hour every day can decrease your risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and other ailments dramatically. Combined with a healthy diet, exercising is one of the best things you can do for your body.
Wear Sunscreen
Prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sun can cause skin cancer, studies show. Applying sunscreen is something of an inconvenience, but you can bet that having skin cancer is much more than a simple inconvenience. Taking a few extra minutes to apply sunscreen can potentially save you from a lifetime of discomfort, pain, and medical costs.
Prevention
If you’re one of the millions of Americans that don’t go to the doctor for annual check-ups, you’re setting yourself up for greater risk. When it comes to something like cancer, the earlier it’s found, the better your chances of survival are. Going to the doctor and getting checked out only costs a few hours out of your day, and can save you from a lifetime of pain and expense.
Prevention is always the first step and the most important factor in overall health. Don’t be afraid to make an annual appointment and have bloodwork done at least once per year. You’ll be grateful if your doctor can catch something earlier rather than later, and there’s a better chance you’ll survive. When’s the last time you went to the doctor?
