Smoking and Asbestos Increases Risk for Lung Cancer in 2018

Smoking and Asbestos Increases Risk for Lung Cancer in 2018

Researchers determined that smoking and asbestos exposure collectively can increase the risk of asbestos-related diseases up to 90 percent in some cases while having little or no causal effect on other diseases. Both smoking and asbestos irritate the lungs. Smoking is a well-known trigger for lung cancer. Chronic exposure to smoke (smoking) causes as many as 90% of lung cancers.

Breathing asbestos fibers can cause lung damage which can lead to non-cancerous asbestos diseases such as pleural disease and asbestosis, or to cancerous diseases such as lung cancer or mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, some may be expelled, but others may remain in the lungs for a lifetime. Cigarette smoking weakens the lungs and decreases their ability to expel fibers. Smoking also acts as an irritant in the air passages causing a higher production of mucus, thereby blocking the passage of air and further decreasing the removal of fibers from the lungs. If you or a loved one are showing Stage four mesothelioma symptoms or have been diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma, we can help you.

Lung Cancer, Smoking and Asbestos

Two large studies examined whether smoking increases the rate of lung cancer in workers chronically exposed to asbestos. With more than 200,000 new lung cancer diagnoses each year, understanding the causes and risk factors of this disease is an important task for the medical community. Research demonstrates that there is a multiplicative effect between lung cancer smoking and asbestos.

Inhaling chemicals in cigarette smoke when the lungs are already facing scarring from asbestos leads to additional respiratory complications. Experts suggest that as the lungs attempt to push asbestos fibers out, continuous scarring occurs when the body faces certain fiber sizes.

Does smoking increase the risk of mesothelioma?

The fact that smoking is detrimental to everybody’s health is no secret. It is also well known that it can lead to cancer. But just what is the link between mesothelioma and smoking? Since mesothelioma is caused by inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers, it seems that smoking is not related to it.

Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lung. In some cases, it can affect the lining of different organs.

The Dangers of Smoking

An important fact is also that smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths in this country. When people smoke, they inhale thousands of different chemicals and other contaminants, many of which are carcinogenic. When these chemicals are combined with asbestos fibers, there is a reason to believe that the chance of developing mesothelioma is greatly increased.

Does Smoking Make Mesothelioma Worse?

Smoking is not directly linked to mesothelioma, but it does have an effect on a patient’s ability to fight their disease. If you are a smoker who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, quitting smoking now can have a significant impact on your prognosis

Benefits of Quitting

Live Longer

Quitting, even after years of smoking, can still have a positive effect on a mesothelioma patient’s life expectancy. Treatment is more effective the healthier a patient is, and quitting smoking is an obvious first step to being healthier.

Comfort

Mesothelioma can be a painful disease, which is only compounded by a smoking habit. Smoking heightens the symptoms of mesothelioma, so quitting can give the patient a better quality of life.

Smoking Cessation

Doctors can help the patient quit smoking. It is important to talk to them if they haven’t already offered help. They should be able to suggest or provide nicotine replacement therapy and support. Find a mesothelioma specialist who can help you make changes to improve your prognosis now.

Asbestos in Cigarettes

Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 toxic chemicals. More than 60 of these are identified as probable causes of cancer. Breathing cigarette smoke harms numerous organs in the body, but it is particularly damaging to lung tissue. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans die from lung cancer, largely because of tobacco use.

Furthermore, a debate no longer exists about whether cigarettes contained asbestos. Evidence proves that one brand of cigarettes, Kent Cigarettes, integrated asbestos fibers in the filter.

Will smoking increase my chance of contracting mesothelioma?

It is possible that smoking may increase your chances of contracting mesothelioma, but this has not been supported by medical research. Smoking is not the cause of mesothelioma – asbestosis. Smoking may, however, adversely affect your lungs and make them less able to expel asbestos fibers that are inhaled. If you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with Stage four mesothelioma cancer, our specialists here at the asbestos cancer organization are here to help you now. We can also connect you with a mesothelioma lawyer at our partners of GPW Law can also be very beneficial.

The post Smoking and Asbestos Increases Risk for Lung Cancer in 2018 appeared first on Mesothelioma Cancer Information.

source https://umassmedicalschool.com/2019/02/24/smoking-and-asbestos-increases-risk-for-lung-cancer-in-2018/