Lung Cancer: Can You Get It Without Smoking?

For years, we’ve associated cigarettes with lung cancer. But the reality is that there are many triggers which can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. While smoking is extremely damaging for your health and should be avoided, around ten percent of the people who are diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States alone are non-smokers. Here are some of the links to lung cancer which don’t involve smoking.

The most obvious risk for non-smokers is second-hand smoke, which is also known as passive smoking. If you live with someone who smokes, you are still breathing in the harmful air even if you don’t smoke yourself. You have a 24 percent higher risk of developing lung cancer if you are a passive smoker, so this is something to watch out for. Radon gas is different to cigarette smoke in that you can’t smell it – it is still harmful to your health though. Being exposed to radon gas increases your risk of developing lung cancer by as much as 12 percent. This gas is emitted from the earth and enters the home through foundations and pipes.

Known for being damaging to our health, asbestos is often found in older homes and buildings. Lung cancer is increased through microscopic fibres getting into the lungs which cause damage. If you work with asbestos, you are five times more likely to develop the disease. Chemicals are another health risk, so exposure to arsenic, nickel and chromium will increase your risk of developing this form of cancer. Lung cancer is not as black and white as some other diseases – it can be caused by a variety of factors and not simply just through smoking. Avoiding some of the lesser known chemical triggers are just a few of the ways you can lower your risk and stay as healthy as possible.