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We all know that polluted city air can be detrimental to health and that the risk of lung cancer is higher. Smoking, smog, genetic factors, and dust are all risk factors.
Whether you live in a village or a big city, any place near an industrial area is bad for your health. Read on. Finding a quiet spot in the mountains is always a better choice. The air you breathe is one of the main risk factors for lung cancer.
However, scientists have discovered that besides air pollution itself, another key factor contributes to this disease. This factor, surprisingly, is the altitude at which one lives.
How altitude affects cancer risk.
It may be hard to believe today, but it’s true. The information was also published by the New York Times. You can learn more on the medical research site WebMD.
They found a strong negative correlation between altitude and the development of lung cancer. This means that the lower the altitude, the higher the incidence of lung cancer.
And the main culprit? Again, you won’t believe this: it’s oxygen.
Yes, the oxygen we breathe, which keeps us alive and without which we cannot survive more than a few minutes.
The explanation is as follows:
on the one hand, oxygen is essential to us. But on the other hand, as we all know, oxygen is a powerful oxidant. It causes rust on iron, and in our bodies, it damages (oxidizes) cells.
Cells use oxygen internally to produce energy, but its effects on the external structures of cells are harmful.
Altitude plays a role because, in low-lying areas close to sea level, the air is denser, and therefore richer in oxygen. While this may seem like a benefit to the body, it’s actually quite the opposite.
At lower altitudes, you can breathe more easily, but the cells that come into most contact with oxygen, those in the lungs, are more damaged.
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