Age, smoking or lifestyle, what are the reasons that increase the risk of blood cancer? Pay attention to these important things

News Topical, Digital Desk : In today's time, many types of diseases are increasing due to bad eating habits and unhealthy lifestyle. Blood cancer is one of them. To make people aware about this disease, every year the month of September is celebrated as Blood Cancer Awareness Month. The purpose of this month is to tell people about the symptoms of this disease.

This will help in identifying the danger in time. Blood cancer is one of those diseases about which people often know very little. This is the reason why sometimes it is identified late. If people are aware of its risk factors, then it becomes easier to start investigation and treatment in time. Although this disease can happen to anyone, it is important that people remain alert and keep getting their health checked daily. Our article today is on this topic. We will tell you what blood cancer is and what are its risk factors. 

Blood cancer is a disease that attacks the most important part of our body, the blood cells. These cells give us strength, protect us from diseases and prevent excessive bleeding when we get injured. When the DNA of these cells gets damaged, they become cancerous and cannot do their job properly.

What is blood cancer?

When blood cells in your body are not able to form or function properly, it is called blood cancer. This disease mostly starts from the soft part inside your bones i.e. bone marrow. Bone marrow contains stem cells. These are special cells, which later form three types of essential blood cells-

• Red Blood Cells: These carry oxygen throughout the body.
• White Blood Cells: These protect your body from diseases.
• Platelets: These help in clotting of blood so that excessive bleeding does not occur in case of an injury.

Let us tell you that in case of blood cancer, these three cells are not formed properly or their function gets impaired. Like any other cancer, blood cancer is also a serious disease.

How many types of blood cancer are there?

• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Myeloma

Risk factors for blood cancer

There are some things that can increase the risk of blood cancer, such as-

• Age- The risk of blood cancer increases with increasing age.
• Sex- This disease is more common in men.
• Smoking- Smoking or second hand smoke also   increases the risk of blood cancer .
• Exposure to toxic chemicals-  Long-term exposure to chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde.
• Previous cancer treatment- If radiation or chemotherapy has been done before, then there are chances of this disease.
• Family history –  Some blood cancers can run in families, although most patients do not have a family history.
• Certain diseases – Long-term inflammation, certain genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases also increase the risk.

How to reduce the risk?

It is not possible to completely prevent blood cancer. This disease can happen to a healthy person as well. But you can avoid some risk factors, such as quitting smoking and paying attention to your diet.

Symptoms of blood cancer

• feeling tired
• breathlessness
• swollen lymph nodes
• frequent infections
• Bone pain
• Excessive sweating at night
• Joint pain
• Persistent fever
• Sudden weight loss

Why does blood cancer occur?

• Blood cancer starts when the DNA of blood cells changes (mutates).
• DNA tells cells when to grow, when to divide, and when to die.
• When DNA gives wrong orders, cells start growing in strange ways.
• These bad cells are produced in excess and stop the growth of normal cells.
• Gradually, the healthy cells in the bone marrow decrease. Due to this, the body does not get enough blood cells to function properly.

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