According to experts, kidney cancer is one of the 10 most common forms of cancer in men and women alike. If you want to know some of the things that you may do to dodge this deadly disease, continue reading. Below we will discuss the risk factors for kidney cancer.
When risk factors are being talked about, things that are known to increase your likelihood of developing certain diseases are the ones involved. So in this case, risk factors for kidney cancer are those that can cause your odds of having cancer of the kidneys to increase.
Some risk factors for kidney cancer are non-preventable, which means that you have no control over them. Examples of these types of risk factors for kidney cancer are:
Age
The older you are, the higher your risk of developing kidney cancer.
Gender
It is said that kidney cancer is twice as common in males as in females.
Race
Experts are not so sure why African Americans and Native Americans are at higher risk of kidney cancer.
Genes
Having a family history of kidney cancer is considered as a risk factor.
Inherited conditions
There are a number of inherited health problems that can increase kidney cancer risk.
Fret not — just because you have these risk factors for kidney cancer doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to end up with the disease sooner or later. Do take note that some people who have these risk factors do not develop kidney cancer. Also, some of those who are diagnosed with kidney cancer did not have these risk factors.
Now let’s take a look at some risk factors for kidney cancer that you have control over:
Cigarette Smoking
Generally speaking, your odds of having kidney cancer one day increases by up to 50% if you are a cigarette smoker. But it also depends of how heavy of a smoker you are — the more sticks you light up in a day, the higher your risk of having kidney cancer goes. The good news is quitting the habit can help in considerably lowering your risk of developing the deadly disease. About 10 years after ditching cigarette smoking, experts say, your risk of having kidney cancer becomes as low as that of someone who is a non-smoker.
Being Overweight
It’s common knowledge that obesity is bad for your overall health. Here’s one more reason why being overweight is not a good thing: it’s something that considerably increases your risk of having kidney cancer. According to studies, people who have extra pounds are more likely to develop kidney cancer than those who are within their ideal weights.
Unhealthy Eating Habits
There are a couple of reasons why consuming foods that are unhealthy can increase your likelihood of having kidney cancer one day. First, eating lots of fatty and greasy foods introduces loads of toxins into your body, and that can increase the chance of cancer developing. Second, unhealthy eating habits can make it very easy for you to gain excess pounds and become overweight, which is an earlier-tackled risk factor for kidney cancer.
Intake of Painkillers
While painkillers may take away aches and pains, did you know that some of them can slightly increase your risk of having kidney cancer? According to doctors, some painkillers that may put a person at risk include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. But they say that low doses or occasional intake is unlikely to be risky.
Having High Blood Pressure
Actually, doctors say that high blood pressure is something that can be managed or reversed with a few simple dietary and lifestyle changes, and so it is included in this list of risk factors for kidney cancer that you can control. Besides, high blood pressure is linked not only to kidney cancer, but kidney disease in general.
