How to minimize the risks for cancer? 7. Protection from viral infections

The uncontrolled growth of cells in any part of the body is cancer. It is a group of disease. Cancer kills millions of people every year in our world. Few can be curable if diagnosed in the early stages. We can do a lot to minimize the risk of cancer. The hereditary risk factor is only about 5% to 10%. The rest comes from our lifestyle, diet and environment. We see here the many ways to reduce the cancer risks.

It is believed that viruses cause about 10 to 15% of cancers in our world. Cancers can’t be caught like an infection and viruses can only help to cause some cancers. Virus can cause genetic changes in cells which can lead to cancer. The risk is very low to get the cancer from the virus, but there are other factors which can play a vital role and they include:

• The strain of the virus
• The genes of the host
• Host’s lifestyle factors including smoking, alcohol and food
• Immunosuppression caused by malnutrition or HIV infection or AIDS

The viruses are linked to the following cancers and they include:

• Human Papilloma virus (HPV) – cervical cancer and other cancers of the genital and anal area. May lead to oropharyngeal cancer and non melanoma skin cancers in some persons.
• Hepatitis B and C viruses – primary liver cancer
• Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) – lymphomas
• T cell leukaemia virus – T cell leukaemia

There are many cases where the viral infection doesn’t lead to cancer. There is primary liver cancer or T cell leukaemia in people without corresponding viral infection.

Bacterial infections haven’t been thought of as cancer producing agents for a long time. Now we know well that helicobacter pylori can cause stomach cancer. Without knowing their exact role, few of the bacteria are associated with different cancers and they include:

• Salmonella typhi – gallbladder cancer
• Streptococcus bovis – colorectal cancer
• Chlamydia pneumonia – lung cancer
• Mycoplasma – different cancers

Research is going on to know more about the role of viruses and bacteria in cancer. It is in our hands to minimize the risks. A healthy lifestyle is always important. Safe-sex is also important to prevent infections. It is important to go to your doctor if you have any symptoms of viral or bacterial infection.

Can you explain me the peptic ulcers?

A peptic ulcer is a sore on the lining of the stomach or on the beginning of the small intestine or at the end of oesophagus. If the peptic ulcer is in the stomach it is called a gastric ulcer. The ulcer in the small intestine is duodenal ulcer. One can have both ulcers at the same time and can develop these more than once in his/her lifetime. Peptic ulcers are common in the world.

The stomach produces acid to help to digest the food. The lining of the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine have a layer of mucus which protects them from the acid. If there are problems in this protection mechanism the acid can eat into the stomach or intestine linings and can cause an ulcer.

The causes of peptic ulcers include:

• Stomach infection by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. About half of the world’s population is infected, but it does not cause always ulcer
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause peptic ulcers. Examples include aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen
• Smoking tobacco products
• Drinking excess alcohol
• Stress can also increase the production of acid in the stomach
When the mucus lining is damaged the acid can cause inflammation which can lead to peptic ulcer.

The symptoms of peptic ulcers include:

• Pain when the stomach is empty
• Pain can be relieved by eating food
• Difficulty in swallowing food
• Weight loss without dieting
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Heartburn
• Bitter taste in the mouth
• Regurgitating food

The alarm symptoms include:

• Blood in the vomit
• Bloody or black stools
• Sharp, sudden, persistent and severe abdominal pain

The alarm symptoms can be noticed when acid or the peptic ulcer breaks a blood vessel or

The peptic ulcer blocks the way of food trying to leave the stomach to the small intestine or

The ulcer may eat very deeply into the wall of your stomach or small intestine making a hole.

When there is a blood loss the chance of anaemia is there.

You must go to your doctor immediately. He will do the necessary checks and treat you.

Do not have foods or drinks which give you more severe symptoms. The spicy food can give problems, but hot chillies helps to prevent peptic ulcers. Milk increases the symptoms by producing more acid. Avoid alcohol and it is good to stop smoking. Your doctor can advise you which pain killers are better.

With medicines your doctor can cure your peptic ulcers today.

Hookah

What is hookah smoking?

Hookah smoking is a rapidly growing form of tobacco use worldwide.

Narghile or bong or hookah or water-pipe smoking, where the principle of smoking is the same, has been extensively practised in India, in the Middle East and other countries for more than 400 years, with a recent rebirth of this, predominantly among youth. 25% of youth at the age of 13 to 15 smoke water-pipes today in Germany. It is also a problem for the youth in USA and other countries.


Is it used only to smoke tobacco?

Hookah is generally used to smoke tobacco, cannabis or other substances. As you see the danger of coming in contact with cannabis is there always.

What is the difference between cigarette smoking and hookah smoking?

There are two main differences between cigarette and hookah smoking. Water-pipe cool the smoke before it enters the person’s lungs, it makes then easier to smoke and a large amount of smoke is inhaled quickly than the smaller, more frequent inhalation cigarette smoking.

The components of the tobacco used are variable and not well standardized and the result is high amount of aerosol in water-pipe smoke as well as other substances including cadmium.

What are the health risks of hookah smoking?

It is a health risk because you smoke there tobacco or cannabis or other substances or drugs which may be more dangerous, but the significant health risk is associated with pipe sharing with all possible severe infections.

Could you compare the hookah smoke with cigarette smoke?

It is very difficult to standardise these values, but with the available data it is possible to compare them. Hookah smoke contains high amount of nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide and heavy metals.

The nicotine content of hookah is 2% to 4% compared to 1% to 3% in cigarette smoke and the amount of carbon monoxide is 0.34% to 1.4% in hookah smoke and 0.41% in cigarette smoke.

The levels of lead, arsenic and chromium are also high in hookah smoke.

Moreover, hookah is smoked sometimes hours together so that the quantity of the poison gone to the blood is also more.

How could one inhale so much of smoke without any problem?

Hookah smoke is moisturized and this allows to smoke and inhale deeply without irritation.

What are the possible infections?

The possible infections include tuberculosis, herpes simplex, helicobacter pylori, hepatitis C, Ebstein-Barr virus, pulmonary aspergillosis, respiratory viruses and HIV.

My friends say it contains fewer toxins than cigarette smoke because the smoke in hookah is filtered through the water, is it correct or not?

It is wrong and it is a common misconception to make it acceptable to the society and never believe it.

What is your last word about hookah smoking?

Mouths away from this hookahs because in several places or in parties alcohol, illicit drugs like cocaine or amphetamine or other psychoactive drugs also mixed, I tell you, this is dangerous for your health and could lead to your downfall for ever.

What should be done?

Educate the youth about the danger of this and drugs abuse in geneal. If you do it in a proper way we could convince them. It is the duty of our parents, educational institutions, doctors and all other who always boast to have influence in our society.

To know more about all the abused drugs in our world read Dr. Kaniappan Padmanaban's Book "Drugs Abuse". For further information www.aaronverlag.com