Do you know what you should do to protect your lung health? – Breaking News news

Why is the fight against lung cancer of great importance?

Lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases (CHD) lead to the premature death of millions of people every year, placing a huge burden on healthcare systems and the economy. It is estimated that lung cancer will cause 1.8 million deaths worldwide in 2022 alone, or approximately one fifth of all deaths caused by cancer. [1]. In Turkey, the most common cancer type is lung cancer, with approximately 40 thousand new cases. [2] and a significant portion of diagnosed cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage [3]. Lung cancer also ranks first among the cancers that most commonly cause death in our country.[4] Having adequate information about such an important disease and taking preventive steps can make life-saving differences. Although it is very important to adopt a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, have a balanced diet and stay away from harmful habits such as smoking in the fight against lung cancer, in addition to these individual steps, raising awareness in society and ensuring that everyone has access to early diagnosis opportunities should be one of the top priorities.

What are the general effects of sports on lung health? How effective can physical activity be in reducing the risk of lung cancer?

Physical activity has positive effects on lung health. Physical activity and exercise improve fatigue, quality of life, cardiovascular fitness, lung function, muscle mass and strength, and psychological well-being in lung cancer patients. Studies have shown that regular exercise can significantly reduce the incidence of some cancer diseases. The most significant decrease is seen in the incidence of breast and colorectal cancer. Apart from these, it has been shown that the incidence levels of cancer types such as lung, prostate, endometrium, testicle and ovary are significantly reduced with regular exercise, and that exercise provides significant protection against many types of cancer.[5]

Which types of sports support lung health the most? Is cardio or strength training more effective?

Aerobic exercises and muscle strengthening exercises support lung health. Aerobic activities such as walking, jogging and rope jumping enable your heart and lungs to work more efficiently, while strength training such as weight lifting or pilates improves your posture and strengthens your respiratory muscles. Breathing exercises, in particular, teach you to breathe more deeply and effectively by exercising your diaphragm. It is of great importance that exercise is regular and continuous.

What should athletes pay attention to to protect their lungs?

Since athletes are exposed to more physical activity than normal individuals, it is important for them to consult their doctor before starting to exercise. They also need to avoid exercising outdoors when air pollution is high. In such cases, they can choose gyms or use an exercise machine. In addition, as with other individuals, athletes should stay away from cigarettes and harmful substances, avoid dust and chemicals, pay attention to their nutrition and perform regular health checks to protect their lungs.

We say that early diagnosis of lung cancer saves lives, so what symptoms should we focus on for early diagnosis? What should we do when we see these symptoms?

Lung cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms and may be seen on a chest X-ray taken for another condition or condition. Although it has not yet been implemented in our country, tomography follow-up for high-risk smokers has been accepted as a screening program in some countries, especially the USA. However, some signs and symptoms may also be caused by lung cancer. We recommend that individuals who have any of these consult their doctor. We can list these symptoms as follows: Pain or soreness in the chest, cough that does not go away or gets worse over time, difficult breathing, wheezing, blood in sputum, recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia, hoarseness, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, feeling of intense fatigue, trouble swallowing. , swelling of the veins in the face or neck. Of course, it should not be forgotten that these complaints are not specific to lung cancer and can be seen in other diseases.

Could you give information about the Lung Health Initiative and the “Don’t Ignore It Even If There Are No Symptoms” awareness campaign that you implemented within the scope of the initiative?

As the Turkish Medical Oncology Association, we launched the “Don’t Ignore Even If There Are No Symptoms” awareness campaign in cooperation with AstraZeneca. With the “Don’t Ignore It Even If There Are No Symptoms” awareness campaign, we aim to draw attention to lung cancer risk factors, symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis. Remember, early diagnosis saves lives!