"Sickness comes from the mouth, and trouble comes out of the mouth"
In recent years, with the improvement of living standards and changes in dietary structure, esophageal cancer has become one of the common malignant tumors, which has brought severe challenges to the health of the general public. Esophageal cancer is not menacing and unavoidable, it will remind us through a series of warning signs that the appearance of certain symptoms may mean that there is something wrong with the body and need to be taken seriously. In the face of esophageal cancer, it is necessary for us to have a deeper understanding of its causes and preventive measures to protect the health of ourselves and our families.
01. The serious challenge of esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer, as one of the top 10 cancers in the world, poses a heavy health burden to the world. According to research data, the number of new cases of esophageal cancer in the world has exceeded 600,000, and it is particularly noteworthy that nearly two-thirds of the cases occur in the Taihang Mountains, spanning Henan, Shanxi and Hebei. This phenomenon has led to in-depth thinking about the causes of esophageal cancer.
02. Esophageal cancer-prone areas
Esophageal cancer is mainly located in three narrows, where food stays for a long time and is easy to come into contact with carcinogens, which increases the risk of cancer:
Neck stricture: the beginning of the esophagus, where the pharynx meets the esophagus. It is surrounded by the cricopharyngeal muscles and cricoid cartilage. It is a place where foreign bodies in the esophagus are easy to reside, and it is also one of the common sites of esophageal cancer.
Chest stricture: 7 cm below the entrance to the esophagus, where the left bronchus crosses the esophagus. It is formed by the aortic arch and left bronchus and crosses anteriorly to the esophagus. This area of food has a long retention time and is prone to friction with hard food, resulting in mechanical damage and increasing the likelihood of cancer.
Abdominal stricture: where the esophagus passes through the hiatus of the diaphragm. It is susceptible to reflux of gastric contents, which can lead to damage to the esophageal mucosa and increase the risk of cancer.
03. High-risk groups and risk factors for esophageal cancer
People who live in high-risk areas for a long time: People who live in these high-risk areas for a long time have a higher risk of esophageal cancer due to long-term exposure to high-risk environments.
Poor eating habits: Eating too fast, preferring hot and hot foods, and eating a high-salt diet are one of the main risk factors for esophageal cancer. Long-term poor eating habits can increase the likelihood of damage to the esophageal mucosa and increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
Smoking, alcohol consumption: Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption are one of the important risk factors for esophageal cancer. The harmful substances in tobacco and alcohol irritate the esophageal mucosa for a long time, increasing the risk of cancer.
Familial genetic factors: People with first-degree relatives with esophageal cancer, especially those with both parents having esophageal cancer, have a significantly increased risk. Familial genetic factors may be related to genetic background and shared environmental exposures.
Poor oral hygiene: Poor oral hygiene such as tooth loss and periodontal disease are closely related to the occurrence of esophageal cancer. Poor oral hygiene can lead to an increase in bacteria in the mouth, which in turn affects the health of the esophageal mucosa and increases the risk of cancer.
Digestive system diseases: People with digestive diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux and peptic ulcer can damage the esophageal mucosa and increase the risk of esophageal cancer due to long-term reflux of gastric acid and gastric juice.
To sum up, in view of these risk factors, we need to pay attention to measures such as healthy diet, quitting smoking and drinking, maintaining oral hygiene, and regular physical examination to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer.
04. Warning signs of esophageal cancer
Narrowing of the esophageal opening: People with esophageal cancer often experience a gradual narrowing of the esophageal opening, making it difficult to swallow food and causing the feeling that something is stuck in the throat. This symptom usually occurs when swallowing food, regardless of the type of food, and even has a similar sensation when drinking water. This feeling of blockage in the throat is often accompanied by a long-term self-perception that food stays inside the esophagus.
Foreign body sensation: People with esophageal cancer often feel a foreign body in their throat as if food is attached to the esophagus, or they swallow the foreign body by mistake and stay in the esophagus. The sensation is similar to the feeling of a grain of rice or vegetable sticking to the wall of the esophagus, and even if you are not eating, you always feel the presence of a foreign body.
Progressive dysphagia: One of the most common symptoms in patients with esophageal cancer is progressive dysphagia. This difficulty is evident when swallowing and gradually worsens as the disease progresses. Patients often experience discomfort or a feeling of getting stuck as food passes through, especially when swallowing larger pieces of food. As the disease progresses, people may choke and have difficulty swallowing even liquid foods.
Retrosternal pain: Patients with early-stage esophageal cancer often experience mild retrosternal pain when swallowing food and can clearly identify the location of the pain. The nature of the pain may be burning, tingling, or rubbing. The degree of pain is related to the nature of the food, with severe pain when swallowing coarse, hot, or irritating foods. The pain usually lessens or goes away after swallowing, but it may reappear after days or months, or even for a longer period of time.
The presence of these symptoms may be a warning sign of esophageal cancer, especially if multiple symptoms are present at the same time, and medical attention should be sought promptly for further investigation. Early detection and treatment of esophageal cancer can help improve cure and survival rates.
05. Prevention first, scientific diet
Prevention of esophageal cancer is crucial, and adopting a scientific diet and healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing the disease.
Scientific diet: Eat a varied diet: Keep your diet varied and consume a variety of vegetables, fruits, and other foods to ensure your intake of various nutrients.
Limit meat intake: Reduce your intake of red meat and processed meat products, especially those that are smoked, cured or grilled.
Avoid hot foods: Avoid overheated foods or drinks, especially hot foods and hot drinks, to reduce damage to the esophageal mucosa.
Quit smoking and drinking: Quitting smoking and drinking is key to preventing esophageal cancer. Smoking and alcohol consumption are one of the main risk factors for esophageal cancer, and quitting smoking and alcohol can significantly reduce the risk of developing the disease.
Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity and overweight are closely related to the occurrence of esophageal cancer, and maintaining a healthy weight is one of the important measures to prevent esophageal cancer.
Exercise regularly: Moderate physical activity can help boost immune system function and promote good health, helping to prevent esophageal cancer.
06.Koi-no-chi
Although the understanding of esophageal cancer by ancient medical scientists is not as systematic and in-depth as that of modern medicine, some descriptions and suggestions for esophageal cancer-related symptoms and prevention methods can be found in some ancient books:
Ancient medicine generally paid attention to the impact of diet on health, emphasizing the importance of dietary regulation in the prevention of diseases. In classical medical works such as "The Yellow Emperor's Neijing", the concepts of "eating modestly" and "five grains for nourishment" are mentioned, emphasizing the importance of reasonable diet and moderate diet for physical health. At the same time, ancient medicine also pays attention to the influence of emotional regulation and lifestyle habits, and believes that factors such as poor mood and irregular work and rest will also affect human health.
In addition, ancient medicine also put forward some empirical suggestions for the treatment of esophageal cancer, although these methods may not be as scientific and reliable as modern medicine at that time, but they reflect the ancient people's attention to esophageal cancer and treatment attempts.
Although the understanding and treatment methods of esophageal cancer in ancient medicine are not as systematic and scientific as those of modern medicine, their emphasis on dietary regulation, emotional regulation and the influence of lifestyle habits, as well as the attempts of some treatment methods, also provide us with some enlightenment and reference.
07. Conclusion
When it comes to preventing and identifying esophageal cancer, a scientific diet, a healthy lifestyle, and regular check-ups are all crucial. By eating a reasonable diet, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, maintaining good oral hygiene, and exercising, we can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer. At the same time, timely attention to and serious treatment of some abnormal symptoms in the throat, such as progressive dysphagia, retrosternal pain, hoarseness, etc., is also the key to early detection of esophageal cancer.
Despite the high incidence of esophageal cancer in the mainland, we can still reduce its impact on our health through scientific prevention and timely identification. Therefore, let's focus on our eating habits, lifestyle and physical health to prevent esophageal cancer and protect the health of ourselves and our families.
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