Zhang Qiang is a lively young man, and he usually likes to get together with friends to chew betel nut and chat. He felt that the unique taste of betel nut could make his whole person refreshed.
However, Zhang Qiang recently saw a news item on the Internet, saying that betel nut was listed as a first-class carcinogen, and he chuckled in his heart and felt that something was wrong.
Zhang Qiang was quite conflicted, on the one hand, he really liked to chew betel nut and felt that it was a kind of enjoyment, on the other hand, he was also afraid that he would really get some disease because of it.
Zhang Qiang wondered in his heart, can this betel nut still be eaten? He remembered that when he was a child, his grandfather often warned him not to eat too much messy things, but now he is obsessed with this thing.
However, there are so many people chewing betel nut, don't everyone know about the harm? What is the magic of this betel nut that makes people so? Let's continue to look down.
01
Betel nut, which was once regarded by countless people as a "magic weapon" to refresh the mind and eliminate fatigue, is now listed as a first-class carcinogen by the World Health Organization. What kind of secret is hidden behind this?
The reason why betel nut is so defined is not groundless. Studies have shown that the arecine and areca nut tannin in areca nut can destroy the integrity of the oral mucosa when they react chemically with oral secretions.
This destructive effect is not achieved overnight, but is long-term and chronic. Long-term chewing of betel nut will not only make the oral mucosa fragile, but also more likely to induce cell lesions, which will eventually lead to the occurrence of cancer.
However, the dangers of betel nut go far beyond that. Many betel nut lovers enjoy that coolness while ignoring the addictive nature it brings.
The arecine in betel nut is actually a receptor agonist, which can stimulate the adrenal glands to secrete adrenal corticosteroids, making people's bones and ganglia in an excited state.
Over time, the brain becomes dependent on this stimulus, and once you stop chewing betel nut, you will experience anxiety, irritability, and other discomforts.
02
In addition to the "invisible killer" of betel nut, there are many causes of oral cancer. Among them, smoking is undoubtedly the biggest "accomplice". The harmful substances in cigarettes can not only cause damage to the lungs, but also cause strong irritation to the oral mucosa.
People who smoke for a long time often have varying degrees of hyperplasia of the oral mucosa, and in severe cases, even mucosal leukoplakia, which are signs of precancerous lesions.
Alcohol is also another important cause of oral cancer. When alcohol enters the mouth, it comes into direct contact with the oral mucosa, causing chemical burns. This repeated chemical irritation can cause inflammation in the mouth to recur, which in turn increases the risk of cancer.
In addition, sexual disorder can also lead to the development of oral cancer. HPV virus infection is closely related to oral cancer. People who have an inappropriate private life and frequent changes of sexual partners are more likely to be infected with the HPV virus, which increases the risk of oral cancer.
Foreign body irritation in the mouth is also an important factor in oral cancer. Ill-fitting dentures, rotten tooth roots, etc., will irritate the oral mucosa for a long time, resulting in chronic oral ulcers and even cancer.
Therefore, it is essential to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the oral cavity and to deal with foreign bodies in the oral cavity in a timely manner to prevent oral cancer.
03
For people who have been chewing betel nut for a long time, they should be highly vigilant once they have the following oral symptoms:
Long-term non-healing of canker sores. Although mouth sores are a common oral disease, they generally have a short course and can heal on their own within two weeks.
If canker sores persist and are accompanied by significant pain and burning, then you need to be alert to the possibility of oral cancer.
It is an unidentified lump in the mouth. These lumps can be a direct manifestation of oral cancer, or they can be a sign that cancer cells have metastasized to other sites. Therefore, once you find a hard lump in the mouth, you should seek medical attention in time.
In addition, abnormal changes in the color of the oral mucosa are also an important signal of oral cancer. The normal oral mucosa should be pale pink, but if white, brown, or black plaques appear and the plaques are thick and coarse, then they need to be taken seriously.
Restricted mouth opening is also a common symptom of oral cancer. Due to the growth and spread of the tumor, patients with oral cancer often have difficulty opening their mouths. Therefore, once the symptoms of limited mouth opening appear, you should seek medical examination in time to rule out the possibility of oral cancer.