There are signs you should pay attention to in order to determine if you are at risk for lung cancer.
Lung cancer causes more cancer deaths in the United States each year than deaths related to colon, prostate and breast cancers combined, according to the American Cancer Society.
READ: Lung Cancer: 4 Things Blacks Need To Know
Lung cancer occurs when you have an uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells that starts in one or both of your lungs. This growth occurs in the cells that line your air passages.
Instead of these abnormal cells developing into healthy lung tissue, they multiply quickly and form tumors. This leads to your lung(s) losing their ability to provide oxygen into your bloodstream.
The good news is that you can significantly decrease your risk for lung cancer with a few lifestyle changes.
Smoking
If you smoke, you are at an increased risk of getting lung cancer.
Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer.
Of those who have lung cancer, 90% of these individuals are smokers. This smoking is not limited to cigarettes, but also includes tobacco products, cigars, and pipes. 7,000 toxic chemicals are present in tobacco smoke, many of which are poisons.