Lung Cancer Causes and symptoms

lung cancer is the most lethal in the United States. Among all causes of death, lung cancer ranks second after heart disease in men and third after heart disease and cerebrovascular disease in women. in 2002 alone, over 150,000 people in the United States died of lung cancer. Stay abreast of facts about lung cancer, the statistics of affliction are staggering and in most cases, lung cancer may even be avoided.

Causes of lung cancer

most people know the main cause of lung cancer (after all there is so much propaganda about what increases the risk of lung cancer the most). yes, smoking is the main cause of lung cancer (or behind the increased risk of lung cancer). Even passive smoking can slightly increase the risk of lung cancer. Itâ € ™ s unfortunate that even with all that propaganda and people knowing that smoking can cause lung cancer, people continue to smoke tobacco. People working in industries that involve extensive use of asbestos and other chemical substances / fumes are also at greater risk of lung cancer.

while smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer for smokers, secondhand smoke also causes lung cancer and coronary heart disease in nonsmokers. There are about 20% of women diagnosed with lung cancer who never smoked (American Cancer Society). some factors other than secondhand smoke include: exposure to radon or asbestos, inhalation of toxic chemicals or minerals, or simply be genetically predisposed to get it. however, the advantage is that non-smokers do generally respond positively to treatments for cancer.

are organized according to how they spread. Staging of cancer is essential to choose the treatment option most appropriate. a number of diagnostic tests, such as scanners, MRI, endoscopy, blood tests, bone scans, and biopsies are used to how far the cancer has spread.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of lung cancer does not always indicate that the disease is present. There are other conditions that are much less dangerous than can cause these symptoms. however, ignoring the symptoms is dangerous, because if they are directed to lung cancer, the disease will continue to grow. Early treatment is the best way to effectively fight against lung cancer, we must not ignore these symptoms.

SOURCE: Speakfromtheheart.com

  Dec 16, 2010 05:00 ET

MISSION, KS–(Marketwire – December 16, 2010) –  (Family Features) as a cardiac nurse, Carol was devoted to helping patients suffering from heart disease. But when she began to experience a subtle pain in her jaw as she walked from her car to the hospital where she worked, she brushed it aside. she knew it was angina, a symptom of a heart problem, but she ignored her symptoms because she didn’t want to face a diagnosis.

Chronic angina affects more than 10 million Americans and is the most common symptom of coronary heart disease (CHD). Angina occurs as a result of reduced blood flow to the heart and can be brought on by exercise, extreme temperatures, mental or emotional stress or walking in cold weather, uphill, or after eating. When the heart doesn’t get as much oxygen as it needs, it cannot work properly, ultimately leading to the pain and discomfort of angina.

“It started for me as jaw pain, but soon I was experiencing pronounced pain when walking up hills,” recalls Carol, who is from Redwood City, Calif. “I kind of knew what it was, but didn’t want to believe it. as a nurse accustomed to caring for heart patients, being officially diagnosed was the first time I felt mortal.”

As with confronting any health condition, the first step in managing angina is acknowledging the symptoms. People experience angina differently. during an angina episode, most people feel uncomfortable pressure or pain in their chest. others may feel indigestion, exhaustion or shortness of breath.

Even after she was diagnosed, Carol still lived in fear. she kept her fears to herself and quietly structured her life around her angina. she avoided activities which might provoke an attack – anything from changing the bed linens to walking briskly across a parking lot.

“Patients need to speak with their healthcare professionals about their symptoms and keep an ongoing dialogue even after a diagnosis,” says Kathy Berra, MSN, ANP, FAAN, FPCNA, a board member of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association. “There are a number of treatment options available to help relieve and control angina to minimize its impact on daily life and patients should be aware of all of their options.”

As a nurse, Carol understood the importance of communicating with her cardiologist, but she didn’t want to admit how much her angina controlled her life. It was only when her symptoms worsened that she realized she needed to tell her doctor. the key to regaining control, she says, was learning to recognize the pattern of her specific angina symptoms and alerting her doctor when that pattern changed.

“Communication is a two-way street. to develop a proper treatment plan, your healthcare professional first has to know what specific symptoms you’re experiencing, how often you have them, and are they getting worse,” Berra explains. ”The sooner you start having meaningful conversations with your provider, the sooner you can start living your life again.”

A new online resource from Gilead Sciences, SpeakFromTheHeart.com, includes tools to help patients have a more productive conversation with their cardiologist with a goal of leading to better management of chronic angina.

“Having angina doesn’t mean you have to limit your life,” Carol advises. “With the proper treatment you can control angina, instead of angina controlling you.”

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

It is common observation that heart diseases are on the rise and they are no longer restricted to people of a certain age or gender. every person has the potential to suffer from a cardiovascular complication. in such a situation, it is very important that people know about its causes and signs so that timely steps can be taken.

There are different types of cardiovascular diseases. the most common of them all is coronary heart disease or CHD. it develops when plaque blocks or narrows the veins or arteries of the body. Plaque is usually caused by fats, dead cells, high cholesterol and calcium deposits in the arterial walls. When arteries become completely blocked, a person can also suffer from heart attack and strokes. it has been reported by the Centre for Disease Control that sixty percent of all deaths are caused by coronary heart disease. This is due to the fact that CHD has no obvious signs and symptoms.

Another type of heart disease is congestive heart failure or CHF. When the heart is unable to pump sufficient amount of blood needed by the body, then congestive heart failure occurs. This is one of the most alarming kinds of cardiovascular diseases. its causes include hypertension, myocarditis, an infection-like disease of muscles, and coronary heart problems.

Atherosclerosis is also a form of cardiovascular disease in which arteries become hard. This is caused when high levels of cholesterol become deposited in the walls of the arteries. as these deposits grow in size, they first narrow and then completely block the arteries. This in result makes it harder for blood and oxygen to be distributed in the body. This is why some parts of the body like brain, eyes, kidneys and the guts suffer from a lack of oxygen.

The best way to prevent any type of heart disease is to exercise and to avoid foods that contain fats and lead to plaque deposits in arteries. Smoking is also injurious to health and should be stopped altogether. Add Omega 3 fish oil supplements to your diet. Checking your cholesterol levels regularly is an effective way of knowing what is happening inside your body. Try to keep your cholesterol within normal limits because this will go a long way in safeguarding you from heart disease.

Considered the fairer sex, statistics bear out that women live longer than men. Researchers attribute this advantage, in part, to sex hormones, which is likely why when a woman reaches menopause, her “advantage” may dissipate. Still, there are plenty of health risks to women.

The good news is that many of the top 10 list of women’s health threats can be prevented. as the adage goes, an ounce of prevention could very well be worth a pound of cure!

HEART DISEASE

Heart disease is mostly known as a man’s disease but it also poses a major threat to women especially in middle age. Conditions include coronary heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Symptoms include shortness of breath, palpitations, a faster heartbeat, weakness or dizziness and nausea. It is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S.

Las Vegas internist Dr. Beraldo Vazquez Correa insists that a healthy lifestyle is a major key in preventing heart disease. “Women need to be aware of the risks of cardiovascular disease and the risks of not exercising, of smoking, of drinking, of not taking care of themselves,” he said.

Several keys for prevention include quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol, controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising. while it may seem overwhelming to live a heart healthy life, small improvements — from taking the stairs vs. an elevator, to cutting out processed food–work out to big results over a period of time.

LUNG CANCER

Cancer also proves to be a major threat to women but it is not breast cancer that is the most common cause of death. while breast cancer and colorectal cancer pose major threats, according to the American Cancer Society lung cancer is the deadliest. Symptoms of lung cancer are varied depending upon where and how widespread the tumor is. Warning signs of lung cancer are not always present or easy to identify.

For the family of Sharon Robinson, her diagnosis of lung cancer was insidious enough that she had only two months between diagnosis and death. Dana Reeve, the widow of actor Christopher had never been a smoker but succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 44, less than a year from diagnosis.

The National Cancer Institute reports that exposure to radon — a gas that can also be found in water particularly if you have a well — increases lung cancer incidence and mortality. Radon exposure most often occurs at home and can be reduced by sealing cracks in your home’s foundation especially if you have a basement, ventilating crawlspaces, and testing then using a filtration system for your water source.

The growth of the cancer and invasion of lung tissues and surrounding tissue may interfere with breathing, leading to symptoms such as cough, wheezing, chest pain and coughing up blood. To reduce your risk of cancer don’t smoke or use other tobacco products, try to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, maintain a healthy weight and limit your sun exposure.

STROKE

Some stroke risk factors for strokes cannot be controlled. These include age, family history, sex or race. A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. Blood flow can be compromised by a variety of mechanisms. A common symptom is a sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. The loss of voluntary movement and/or sensation may be complete or partial. there may also be an associated tingling sensation in the affected area. Drugs to thin the blood are also sometimes used in treating stroke patients in the hopes of improving the patient’s recovery. Blood pressure is often tightly controlled using intravenous medication to prevent stroke symptoms from progressing.

An interesting fact about stroke is it affects women in the postpartum period or the time after she has delivered a baby. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, postpartum stroke generally occurs from days five to two weeks after delivery. One of the reasons may be the increased maternal age at which many women deliver and obesity. High blood pressure and diabetes are also risk factors for stroke.

Dr. Vasquez says that getting immediate treatment after a stroke is vitally important. “There are many stroke treatments that need to be given immediately to be effective, and people are far more likely to have complications if they stay at home than if they go to the hospital.”

CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of chronic lung conditions, including bronchitis and emphysema. It is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. COPD is a major cause of disability, and it’s the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Most people who have COPD smoke or used to smoke. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants, such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust, also may contribute to COPD.

In emphysema, the walls between many of the air sacs are damaged causing them to lose their shape and elasticity. this damage also can destroy the walls of the air sacs, leading to fewer and larger air sacs instead of many tiny ones. if this happens, the amount of gas exchange in the lungs is reduced. In chronic bronchitis, the lining of the airways is constantly irritated and inflamed. this causes the lining to thicken. Lots of thick mucus forms in the airways, making it hard to breathe. The only way to reduce your risk of getting COPD is to avoid smoking.

Treatment for COPD and other respiratory conditions include oxygen supplementation, long-acting steroids and fast-acting inhalers.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 5.3 million people have Alzheimer’s accounting for an annual cost of $172 billion dollars in the U.S. It is also the seventh leading cause of the death.

In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear after age 60. It is the most common cause of dementia among older people. Memory problems are one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists don’t yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease, but it is clear that it develops because of a complex series of events that take place in the brain over a long period of time.

It is likely that the causes include genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. because people differ in their genetic make-up and lifestyle, the importance of these factors for preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s differs from person to person. A nutritious diet, physical activity, social engagement, and mentally stimulating pursuits can all help people stay healthy. new research suggests the possibility that these factors also might help to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.

CAR CRASH

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading cause of fatal accidents among women is motor vehicle crashes. Ironically, women are statistically considered safer drivers so part of the mortality associated with car crashes may actually be related to their generally smaller stature and deployment of airbags.

A study conducted by Progressive Insurance in may 2007 reported that female car crash rates increased. while males tended to be involved in alcohol-related crashes, young females were beginning to show an alarming increase in fatal car wrecks related to alcohol use and failure to use seatbelts. And a recent proposal is now going to be presented to the Nevada legislature prohibiting state workers from texting and cell phone use while driving state vehicles.

Distractions like cell phone usage, texting and preoccupation with other passengers in the cars lent themselves to making a crash more likely.

Reduce your risk by wearing your seat belt and following the speed limit. You should also avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substances including prescription medications. Lastly, no texting and driving; the results will not make you LOL.

DIABETES

Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar, your body’s main source of fuel. when there isn’t enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose can’t get into the body’s cells. when glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body’s cells are not able to function properly. Other problems associated with the buildup of glucose in the blood include dehydration and damage to the body.

Some studies suggest that women who have diabetes have greater risk of pregnancy complications, birth defects, infertility, and suffer from fatal heart attacks at a younger age than women without diabetes.

Over time, the high glucose levels in the blood may damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and heart and predispose a person to atherosclerosis (hardening) of the large arteries that can cause heart attack and stroke. To prevent type 2 diabetes you should lose excess pounds, if you’re overweight, try to eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods and include physical activity in your daily routine. if medication is prescribed, remain compliant in taking it.

INFLUENZA

While the flu isn’t viewed as a serious threat, complications from the flu if not taken care of can prove to be deadly. because children often bring a host of sickness home and given women are the usually the primary caretaker, they are at higher risk of getting sick.

The flu is a contagious infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus. The most common way to catch the flu is by breathing in droplets from coughs or sneezes. less often, it is spread when you touch a surface such as a faucet handle or phone that has the virus on it, and then touch your own mouth, nose, or eyes.

The flu usually begins abruptly, with a fever between 102 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The fever usually lasts for a day or two but can last five days or more. Most people who get seasonal flu will likely recover without needing medical care but the flu is responsible for over thousands of deaths annually in the U.S. depending on the strain. Doctors, however, can prescribe antiviral drugs to treat people who become very sick with the flu or who are at high-risk for flu complication. Rest and drinking plenty of liquids is often recommended. And as our mother’s often scolded — wash your hands.

KIDNEY DISEASE

Women may have a slight advantage when it comes to chronic kidney disease compared to men but that advantage disappears if she’s diabetic.

Kidney failure can occur from an acute situation or from chronic problems. In acute renal failure, kidney function is lost rapidly and can occur from a variety of insults to the body. The list of causes is often categorized based on where the injury has occurred. Some people have no symptoms, at least in the early stages. The symptoms may be very subtle and may include decreased urine production, body swelling, problems concentrating, confusion, fatigue, and lethargy.

“The scariest part of kidney failure is that it’s silent,” says Dr. Vazquez. “The majority of patients have no idea they have kidney disease.”

Prevention is always the goal with kidney failure. Chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are devastating because of the damage that they can do to kidneys and other organs. Lifelong diligence is important in keeping blood sugar and blood pressure within normal limits. Specific treatments are dependent upon the underlying diseases.

So here’s where being female might be a slight advantage when it comes to chronic kidney disease: women live an average of nine months longer and advance to dialysis 13 months later than men according to a Canadian study. And the osteoporosis drug, raloxifene, may be useful in treating kidney disease in women. Still, chronic kidney disease poses a big risk to women and the focus should always be on prevention.

SEPTICEMIA

What is is septicemia? It is a serious, life-threatening infection that gets worse very quickly and is carried by the blood. often known as blood poisoning, it can arise from infections throughout the body, including infections in the lungs, abdomen, and urinary tract. It may come before or at the same time as infections of the bone, central nervous system, heart, or other tissues. Singer Lily Allen, who lost a baby in her sixth month of pregnancy was reportedly hospitalized after she suffered from septicemia a week after the miscarriage.

Septicemia begins with spiking fevers, chills, rapid breathing, and rapid heart rate. The symptoms rapidly progress to shock with fever or decreased body temperature (hypothermia), falling blood pressure, confusion or other changes in mental status, and blood clotting problems that lead to a specific type of red spots on the skin. Septicemia is often a serious condition that requires a hospital stay and has a high mortality rate.

The best way to ensure an optimal outcome is recognizing the signs of septicemia and being inoculated. The Haempohilus influenza B (HIB) and S. pneumoniae vaccine have already reduce the number of cases in kids. Ask your healthcare provider if these immunizations are appropriate for you.

OTHER CONDITIONS

There are other conditions that did not make the top 10, but that women should be aware of nonetheless. Pelvic congestion syndrome is one of them. It usually starts with a dull and aching pain that lingers in your lower abdomen and lower back. Valves in the veins of the pelvis become weakened and don’t close properly. Instead of defying gravity and returning blood to the heart, the valves allow blood to flow backward and pool in the veins, causing pressure and bulging. It is treated with a procedure called embolization. during the procedure, the radiologist inserts a thin catheter that’s about the size of a strand of spaghetti into the groin’s femoral vein and moves it to the affected vein using X-ray guidance.

A way to reduce your risk to any of these conditions is to lead a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating healthy foods, staying physically active, getting regular checkups and paying attention to your environment.