The Causes of Lung Cancer
Adenocarcinoma of the Lungs

Some of the proven causes of lung cancer are air pollution, exposure to radon gas and cancer-causing agents like benzene. But the deadly dangers of smoking are the major causes. Quitting the habit is the first step on how to prevent lung cancer.

Here's the list of proven causes of carcinoma in the lungs:

1. Smoking

Smoking is a lifestyle-related factor. According to NCI, smoking those cigarettes causes 87% of cases of tumor in the lungs. Tobacco contains over 60 carcinogenic chemicals like tar, benzene, arsenic and lead.

The deadly effects of tobacco use include lung diseases such as emphysema and smoker's cough. Persistent cough is one of the warning sings of lung cancer.

2. Exposure to second hand smoke

Exposure to effects of second hand smoking increases risk for diseases and carcinoma in the lungs by 24% among non smokers. The lungs of children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to second hand smoke.

If you smoke, consider quitting to help prevent damage to your family's lungs.

Click here to read the various benefits of giving up smoking.

3. Asbestos fiber

Asbestos is a known highly toxic chemical that causes diseases and scarring in your lungs.

Exposure to asbestos fiber increases your risk for the carcinoma by 5 times more. If you smoke, your risk goes up further. Your risk is 50 to 90 times higher. Other chemicals include chromium, nickel and arsenic.

4. Radon gas

Radon gas emits ionizing radiation which causes cancer such as adenocarcinoma of the lungs.

5. Aging

One of the causes of carcinoma in the lungs of the elderly is aging. As you grow old, your cells become weak against abnormalities and mutations. Most diagnoses of carcinoma of the lungs are among individuals 65 years old and above who smoked during their younger years.

6. Heredity

Heredity is surprisingly another one of the causes that can trigger lung carcinoma. Having a parent or a sibling who died of the disease increases your risk of developing it regardless of whether you smoke or not. If you smoke, it becomes worse.

7. Alcohol

Alcohol is not directly associated with lung carcinoma but the dangers of alcohol can aggravate and enhance the cancerous effects of tobacco.

8. Air pollution

Polluted air is also believed to be what causes carcinoma of the lungs. It increases your risk similar to that of a passive smoker.

9. Lung diseases

Example of a disease in the lungs that increases your risk for carcinoma to 4 to 5 times more than that of a non smoker is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder or COPD. It is one of the diseases caused by smoking and one of the side effects of lung cancer.

10. High-fat diet

An unhealthy diet makes you more susceptible to colon and breast cancers. But the kind of food that you eat is also one of the causes of lung cancer.

Click to read how unhealthy and acidic foods lead to different cancers.

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