Severe asthma and lung cancer: what’s the link?
May 22, 2023 – Did you know that cutting-edge research highlights the link between severe symptoms asthma And lungs’ cancer?
About 25 million Americans suffer from asthma. chronic inflammatory disease of the airways what is he doing the inner lining of your lungs swells. Between 5% and 10% of Americans with this condition have severe asthma. Severe asthma is classified according to the need for medium and high doses of corticosteroids and other long-acting drugs. Often, these medications do not control the asthma symptoms that people with asthma experience every night and most of the day of the week.
Inflammation caused by asthma triggers attacks when patients inhale allergens such as pollen, dust, or pollutants.
lung cancer is also caused by inflammation in the respiratory tract, which can contribute to the development of tumors.
“Inflammation appears to be associated with malignancy,” said William L. Dowth, MD, chief scientist of the American Cancer Society. “Inflammation from asthma may be one reason why people with asthma are more likely to get lung cancer.”
Severe asthma is also characterized fibroblastscells that can later promote inflammation. Researchers also link fibroblasts to lung cancer.
“IN basic laboratory researchResearchers have found that invasive bronchial fibroblasts obtained from asthma patients can activate lung cancer cells. Yi Guo, PhD, Associate Professor of Medical Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics at the University of Florida College of Medicine at Gainesville. “More studies are needed to explore this relationship in real patient populations.” (Guo is also a co-author new research who found that patients with asthma were nearly one and a half times more likely to develop cancer than those with good respiratory health.)
Researchers in the United Arab Emirates found that patients with severe asthma were often diagnosed with lung cancer after developing it for 3 decades. This is important because it shows that inflammation in severe asthma can contribute to long-term, low-level damage to lung tissue. Study authors work with Canadian researchers it has also been found that patients with severe asthma are more likely to be diagnosed with aggressive stage III or IV lung cancer, and that clinicians may want to consider severe asthma as a predictor of disease risk.
Read on to learn about what can increase the risk of lung cancer in people with severe asthma, and how to reduce those chances.
What are the symptoms of severe asthma?
CoughShortness of breathWheezingChest tightness
People with severe asthma may also breathe fast, their heart rate may fluctuate, and they may tense their head and neck muscles from the stress of coughing or trying to take in more air.
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
Eat two types of lung cancer. Adenocarcinoma occurs in 85% of patients and also belongs to a subtype called squamous cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer, which occurs in only 15% of patients, grows and spreads faster. For patients with severe asthma, “an increased risk of lung cancer does not occur with adenocarcinoma, but is more common with small cell and squamous cell types,” Dowth said.
Symptoms of lung cancer include:
Increasing or persistent cough Chest pain Shortness of breath Coughing up blood Extreme fatigue Unexplained weight loss
Some of the symptoms of lung cancer overlap with those of severe asthma. It is important that people with severe asthma tell their doctor about anything that worries them.
Should you be screened for lung cancer if you have severe asthma?
At that time, recommendations Lung cancer screening is for patients who:
Have a history of smoking 20 packs per year or more, smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and are between the ages of 50 and 80 years.
However, risk can be very specific, so it’s important that people do what’s right for them on an individual level.
“It’s important to follow what your doctor recommends,” he said. Albert Rizzo, MD, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association. “If you have a family history of lung cancer, it’s also important to discuss this with your doctor.”
How can you reduce your risk of developing lung cancer if you have severe asthma?
To reduce risk, it is important:
Keep up to date with your symptoms. Researchers in Norway It has recently been found that patients with only partially controlled symptoms of lung cancer have a higher risk of developing lung cancer. If your asthma symptoms are well controlled, your lung tissue is much less likely to be damaged. Ask about adjusting your treatment.
“Some studies have also shown that patients using inhaled glucocorticoids reduce the risk of lung cancer,” Dahut said. (Glucocorticoids not only fight inflammation in severe asthma, but also also for cancer.) Do not smoke and avoid secondhand smoke. Make your living space safer.
“Check your home for radon gas, which can raise your risk of developing lung cancer,” Rizzo said. Avoid cancer-causing chemicals where you work. diesel exhaust, for example, have been associated with a higher risk of lung cancer. Also avoid exposure to them while commuting by closing windows in traffic. Eat more fruits and vegetables. These products contain powerful connections which may have a protective effect. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts contain sulforaphane, which may reduce the risk of cancer. Leafy greens are rich in folic acid, which may also help prevent disease. Also, think about orange: Oranges, tangerines, peaches, papaya, red bell peppers, and carrots contain beta-cryptoxanthin, a pigment known to fight cancer. Get busy as much as possible. Ask your doctor to recommend light exercise that doesn’t cause breathlessness.
“The more you control your lung cancer risk factors, the more your chances can go down,” Rizzo said. In short, there are many things you can start doing today to live a longer, healthier life.
