Lung cancer is characterized by abnormal cell growths in one or both lungs. Instead of developing into normal and healthy lung tissue, the cells divide continuously and form masses of tissue or tumors. These tumors interfere with the operation of the lungs-- providing the bloodstream with oxygen. Each year, lung cancer is said to be the second most diagnosed after prostate and breast cancer. If you give premium to health, you should at least know of ways on how to reduce your risk of lung cancer. This way, you'll know how to beat it.

Now, you should understand that some people have higher risk in developing the illness. For example, those who smoke or those who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at a higher risk in having lung cancer. People who have been exposed to asbestos, radon, and other harmful environmental factors also have increased risk of having it.

If you are at risk, the best thing to do is stop the factor contributing to the problem. For instance, if you are smoking, the first thing to do is quit smoking. If you didn't know yet, the habit can not only cause lung cancer but other types of cancer too such as of the larynx, pancreas, esophagus, bladder, and others. It can also cause your blood pressure to rise and hamper your lungs from functioning normally. When you stop smoking, you don't only learn the way on how to reduce your risk of lung cancer, you also reduce your risk of having these troubles. Furthermore, you are also reducing your loved ones' risk from suffering from secondhand smoke.

Apart from smoking, other harmful environmental factors can heighten your risk of lung cancer. Of course, the best way to deal with this is by reducing, if not eliminating all the factors. For example, you should come up with a plan on how you can stop being exposed to radon or asbestos. If these chemicals are present in your workplace, you might want to seriously consider looking for job somewhere else. While it's important to earn a living, it should not be at the expense of your health. What will you do with money when you're already too sick to spend and enjoy it, right?

Recently, researchers have been looking into the possible use of chemoprevention agents to prevent lung cancer. Some of these agents come in the form of vitamins which may help lessen a person's risk or at least reduce the cancer's recurrence. Of course, before giving any of these vitamins a try, it is logical to consult your doctor first. If your concern is that you may not be consuming enough of these vitamins, you may opt to talk with a dietitian. He or she can help you plan your meals to ensure that you will get all the vitamins you need.

Now, another thing you have to understand about lung cancer is that it may not always be caused by the factors mentioned above. In some cases, the cancer just appears that even the doctors don't know why. In order to decrease your risk of having this experience, it would be helpful to always be on the guard. Make it a habit to live healthily. Eat only the right foods in their proper proportion, get enough rest, exercise regularly, and manage your stress. All these are just some of the practical ways on how to reduce your risk of lung cancer. Why wait for the illness before you live healthy, right? The earlier you work on the prevention, the bigger your chance of conquering it, or better yet, of not having it!