Understanding Lung Cancer by Naheed Ali

Author:Naheed Ali
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: undefined
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2012-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Hot, Cold, and Clean Air

Weather and climate also have a significant effect on health. Cold air and hot, humid weather are known triggers for breathing problems.[27] Based on a discussion by lung cancer patients online, this can be a major concern, especially for those in the more advanced stages suffering from dyspnea or shortness of breath or those who just underwent major procedures, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, and still have scarring on the lungs.[28] Air-conditioning and breathing masks are advised to regulate air temperature going into the lungs.[29] Nonetheless, in cases where a patient lives in a climate with extreme weather changes, masks are not enough, and relocation is considered. Doctors say, though, that not any one state or city is best for alleviating breathing problems; reactions to weather and climate are very individualized and vary from person to person. For instance, while some experience better breathing in a more humid climate, others fare better when it is slightly cold. If a lung cancer patient wants to consider relocation, it is advised that he or she does it first on a trial basis to see if the general climate improves this condition.[30]

When it comes to air cleanliness, however, the ideal for all individuals suffering from lung cancer is one and the same: the cleaner the better. Because the disease process could have been caused by some form of air pollution in the first place, it is crucial that further exposure to high levels of polluted air be abated. Again, geography plays a huge part in this in the United States, where some cities have appreciably cleaner air than others. Based on a study by the American Lung Association, the top five cities with the cleanest air are St. George (Utah), Espanola (New Mexico), Cheyenne (Wyoming), Prescott (Arizona), and Farmington (New Mexico).[31] These cities were found to have the lowest levels of year-round particle pollution.[32] The top five cities with the most polluted air, meanwhile, are all found in California: Bakersfield–Delano, Merced, Fresno–Madera, Hanford–Corcoran, and Los Angeles.[33] These cities were found to have unhealthy levels of ozone and high levels of particle pollution.[34] Particle pollution refers to the fixation of very minute solid and liquid particles in the air. The smaller the particles, the more dangerous they become because they get trapped in the lungs and can even be absorbed into the bloodstream.[35] Long-term exposure to high levels of particle pollution decreases lung function[36] and accordingly shortens life expectancy.[37] On the other hand, studies do show that approximately four months can be added to a person’s life expectancy due to cleaner air.[38]

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