Effects of air pollution on lungs: The poisonous air of metro cities is now becoming a big threat to women’s health. Lung cancer, which till now was linked only to smoking, is increasingly affecting non-smoking women as well. According to doctors and government data, air pollution, diesel smoke and gases emitted from domestic fuel are increasing the cases of this disease. The matter of concern is that symptoms often appear late, which can lead to delays in treatment.
This type is usually found in non-smokers, due to which the pattern of the disease seems to be changing.
What is in the report-
Recently, the Health Ministry shared the data of ICMR-National Cancer Registry Program in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. according to the report, There has been a clear increase in lung cancer cases in metro cities between 1982 and 2016. Especially among women, cancer called adenocarcinoma has increased rapidly, which now accounts for about 53 percent of the total cases in women. This type is usually found in non-smokers, due to which the pattern of the disease seems to be changing.
What does the doctor say?
According to lung expert Dr. G C Khilnani, firstEarlier 80–90 percent of patients were smokers, but now 15–20 percent of patients worldwide are non-smokers. In India this ratio is said to be higher.
They said that The smoke emitted from diesel and kerosene, biomass fuel, second hand smoke and increasing air pollution are the major reasons for this. Urban women have to face toxic pollutants every day, which is extremely dangerous for the lungs.
Cancer surgeon Dr. Kapil Kumar says that Now lung cancer is no longer just a disease related to tobacco. Environmental and biological reasons are becoming the major reasons for this. But the problem is that still the common belief is that only smokers get lung cancer. Due to this thinking, its initial symptoms are often ignored in women and the disease is caught in the advanced stage.
Symptoms similar to TB-
Doctors also warned that the symptoms of TB and lung cancer are very similar. Symptoms like cough, weight loss and shortness of breath are initially considered to be TB, due to which the correct diagnosis is delayed. Experts have stressed the need for timely scans and tests even in non-smokers.
According to the Health Ministry, suspected cases are being referred to big medical centers during TB screening under the TB-free India campaign. Besides, 39 State Cancer Institutes and Tertiary Care Centers have been approved to increase treatment facilities in the country.
National Clean Air Program-
To deal with air pollution, the government is running the National Clean Air Programme, under which work is being done to improve the air quality in 130 cities including metros. Experts say that awareness and investigation should be increased in time, only then this growing threat can be stopped.
