Chen Lan, a 38-year-old high school teacher, is usually busy with work, often working overtime and staying up late to prepare for classes. Recently, she has been coughing, her chest tightness is becoming more and more obvious, and she coughs up some blood from time to time. This frightened her, and she quickly asked for leave to go to the hospital for a check-up. A CT scan showed a 1.5 cm nodule in the middle lobe of the right lung, and the doctor recommended that she be hospitalized to further confirm the diagnosis.
"Doctor, am I suffering from lung cancer?" Facing the attending doctor, Chen Lan's voice trembled, her eyes were red, and her face was full of worry.
The attending doctor patiently reassured: "At present, it is not conclusive, there are many possibilities of single nodules in the lungs, and most of them are benign." We also need to do a further biopsy to take some tissue for testing. Don't worry too much, it's important to stay optimistic. "
Chen Lan breathed a sigh of relief, but was still worried: "I usually like to eat seafood, especially prawns, I heard that pulmonary nodules can't eat this, can I only avoid it? What other foods should I touch less?"
"Regarding diet, there are currently no clear contraindications. The doctor smiled and explained, "It's okay to eat some seafood in moderation, after all, it is rich in high-quality protein and unsaturated fatty acids." The key is to be light and less salty, not too salty and spicy, but also balanced nutrition, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. However, it is better to avoid those processed meat products, pickled foods, and harsh beverages of tobacco and alcohol, because they may contain additives such as nitrites, or have their own carcinogenic risks, which are an additional burden on the lungs. "
Chen Lan nodded thoughtfully: "I understand." So if the nodule is benign, what should I look out for?"
The doctor said earnestly: "Even if it is a benign nodule, we should follow up closely and have regular follow-up. In life, we should quit smoking, avoid second-hand smoke, ensure adequate sleep, exercise moderately, and enhance physical fitness. Then pay attention to the prevention of infection, flu and pneumonia, and get vaccinated in time. I believe that with the joint efforts of you and me, the condition will definitely develop in a good direction. "
Chen Lan gratefully held the doctor's hand and said firmly: "I will definitely obey the doctor's instructions and actively cooperate with the treatment." I believe that with your help, I will be able to recover soon!"
The doctor smiled knowingly: "Let's work together!" If you feel uncomfortable, feel free to tell me, and I will do my best to help you." "
For many patients with pulmonary nodules, Chen Lan's confusion is not uncommon. People often worry that their diet will aggravate their condition, so they often abstain from eating seafood, especially shrimp and crabs. In fact, this practice is not necessarily scientific.
Regarding the dietary regulation of pulmonary nodules, we should look at it dialectically.
First of all, shrimp and crab are rich in high-quality protein, unsaturated fatty acids and trace elements, which help to enhance the body's immunity and anti-tumor ability. Astaxanthin, in particular, has a strong antioxidant effect and may theoretically help inhibit tumor growth. Therefore, eating fresh seafood in moderation is not "taboo", but it has the potential to help the condition.
Of course, more seafood is not always better. After all, most of them are cold products, and people with weak constitution and cold may eat a large amount of cough and asthma and other symptoms. Some seafood contains high purines, so patients with gout or hyperuricemia should be cautious about eating them. Seafood is also a high-protein food, and excessive intake in people with advanced renal insufficiency can increase the burden on the kidneys. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with pulmonary nodules should consult a doctor before eating, combined with their own physique, and stop in moderation.
In addition to seafood, patients with pulmonary nodules should also pay attention to the following points in their daily diet:
First, eat less pickled and grilled meat products. Carcinogens such as nitrites and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) will be produced during the processing of these foods, which may increase the risk of lung cancer if consumed in large quantities for a long time. In particular, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) already have chronic inflammation of the airways, and eating these is tantamount to adding insult to injury.
Second, drink less stimulating drinks such as strong tea and coffee. Strong tea contains a large amount of tannic acid, which can interfere with iron absorption and aggravate pathological anemia, while caffeine can cause sympathetic nerve excitement and aggravate palpitations and insomnia. Especially for tuberculosis patients, theophylline is a commonly used drug, and drinking strong tea is tantamount to additional medication, which affects the assessment of the condition.
Third, eat less fried and grilled foods. High-temperature heating can produce carcinogens such as acrylamide and acridine, which can irritate the respiratory tract, and excessive intake of trans fatty acids can also induce inflammation and aggravate bronchospasm. In particular, patients with pulmonary nodules with a history of allergic diseases such as asthma should be less likely to touch.
Fourth, reduce your intake of a high-salt diet. Studies have shown that a high-salt diet can alter the respiratory flora, induce inflammation, or increase the incidence of lung cancer by damaging the mucosal barrier. In particular, patients with underlying diseases such as high blood pressure should strictly control salt. It is recommended that the daily salt intake should not exceed 5 grams.
In general, the diet of patients with pulmonary nodules should be light and less salty, mainly fresh vegetables and fruits, high-quality protein, eat some multigrain seafood appropriately, less pickled baked food, strong tea and coffee, etc., and drink more boiled water. Under the guidance of doctors, following the principle of "three less and one more" can not only meet nutritional needs, but also reduce the burden on the respiratory tract.
Of course, diet is only an adjunct, not a cure. For the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules, it is necessary to rely on multidisciplinary cooperation such as surgery, imaging, and pathology, and formulate an individualized comprehensive treatment plan on the basis of a clear diagnosis. Benign nodules can be followed up regularly and locally resected if necessary, while surgery is the main treatment for malignant tumors in the early stage, supplemented by chemoradiotherapy, and individualized treatment is emphasized in the advanced stage, taking into account the quality of life of patients.
It is also important to maintain an optimistic mindset, learn to release stress and receive psychological counseling. Let's walk hand in hand and embrace each day with a positive and optimistic attitude!
What do you think about this?