After chatting with the new intern in the pantry today, I learned that her father had found a lung nodule.
Fortunately, her father's lung nodules were relatively small and fine, but it was a heart disease after all.
I never thought that there would be so many people who could find pulmonary nodules, and I already had three or four friends around me find out.
According to the Chinese Journal of Lung Diseases, the detection rate of pulmonary nodules in mainland China has risen to 22%~51%.
The exact value varies from study to study.
Why do so many people find pulmonary nodules?
The topic is quite sensitive, there are all kinds of things to say, and there are some conspiracy theories.
In fact, the main reason is that there are three main reasons:
First of all, there are more people who check for pulmonary nodules, and the chest films we often take before can't shoot nodules.
Because many people cough incessantly after the environment, more lung examinations are carried out, and nodules that have not been noticed before are detected.
The second is that the general environment has left a "record" for our body,
The lungs inhale air from the outside, and it is the place where the most "enemy attacks" are encountered, such as bacteria, smoke, viruses, etc.
Sometimes the invaders are too powerful and will engage in a fierce war with the Guardians in their lungs.
These infectious or non-infectious factors, such as lesions, inflammation, abscesses, etc.,
It is the main cause of the appearance of lung nodules, such as our skin is broken and scarred.
Another reason is technological innovation.
30%-40% of normal people have nodules of different sizes, ranging from two or three millimeters to one centimeter.
Now it is to add artificial intelligence to CT, artificial intelligence can automatically identify large and small nodules, according to the method of artificial intelligence, 60% have nodules.
Pulmonary nodules are not big, but they are not small, and today I will talk to you in detail about pulmonary nodules.
May you be safe.
01
What is a pulmonary nodule? Isn't it a scary thing to have pulmonary nodules?
In fact, lung nodules are not a disease, and more than 95% of them are fine.
A pulmonary nodule is an abnormal tissue within the lungs that is less than or equal to 3 cm in diameter and can be round or irregularly shaped.
According to the size of the pulmonary nodules, they are divided into:
< 5 mm in diameter are called micronodules;
The diameter of 5mm-10mm is called the small nodule of the lung;
A diameter of 11mm-30mm is called a pulmonary nodule.
Based on the presence or absence of ground-glass density components on chest CT, pulmonary nodules can be classified as:
Pure ground-glass nodules (PGGN), solid nodules, and partially solid nodules (PSN).
It is important to know that a lung nodule is not the same as a disease, it is just a condition that describes the inside of the lungs.
Although most pulmonary nodules have no effect on a person's health,
But I understand that most people's fear of nodules comes from the possibility of malignant transformation.
After all, cancer is a disease that everyone hears of, not to mention the number one killer of cancer, lung cancer.
I give you relief, according to the data of China Doctor Magazine,
More than 95% of pulmonary nodules found on physical examination are benign and do not require surgical intervention.
If you are not in a high-risk group, the probability is even lower.
Seon lost his horse, but he didn't know if it was a blessing.
In the past, lung cancer was one of the most serious forms of cancer, and once detected, it was already at an advanced stage and could not be cured.
Lung cancer is present in the form of lung nodules in the early stage, and there is no sensation, so it is easy to be ignored and miss the chance of cure.
However, with the attention paid to lung nodules, lung cancer is detected earlier and earlier, and the cure rate is getting higher and higher.
Here I would like to remind you: high-risk groups must have their lungs fully examined.
In terms of the detection rate of pulmonary nodules, the general population and high-risk groups are actually about the same.
However, the probability of malignancy detected in pulmonary nodules is much higher in high-risk groups.
According to the recommendations of the 2021 edition of the "Recommendations for Screening and Prevention of Common Malignant Tumors in Residents",
A high-risk group is someone older than 40 years who has any of the following risk factors:
Smoking 1 sachet per day for 20 years or 2 sachets per day for 10 years, including those who have been quitting smoking for less than 15 years;
long-term passive smokers;
Those with a history of occupational exposure (asbestos, beryllium, uranium, hydrogen, etc.);
Patients with malignant tumors or lung cancer in their families;
Those with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or diffuse pulmonary fibrosis.
Whether it is yourself or your family, if you are a high-risk group, you must do a good check-up, early treatment and early health!
02
Many friends have experienced this catastrophe before they realize that their bodies need a guarantee.
Realize that you need better medical conditions.
It turned out that it was difficult to insure yourself if you found out the nodules.
Why is it so hard to insure? There are two main reasons:
Among the same nodules, lung nodules belong to the nodules with a higher probability of cancer.
According to a survey conducted by the American Society of Thoracic Radiation Medicine, the number of 1.5 million patients with pulmonary nodules diagnosed with lung cancer within 2 years is as high as 60,000, that is, the malignant transformation rate of pulmonary nodules within 2 years is as high as 4%.
Lung cancer has a high mortality rate.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association,
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the first highest mortality rate in the world.
Of course, friends with nodules, don't be frightened by this reason for refusal.
Insurance companies are originally for the purpose of profit, and they will avoid risks for themselves as much as possible.
After all, it is not for us alone, for us personally, the probability of malignant transformation of lung nodules is only five percent.
But for the insurance company, that means you have to pay five people for selling a hundred.
Medical insurance is a few hundred dollars a year, isn't this a loss-making deal?
So what kind of insurance can we buy for friends who find out nodules?
Nodules have little impact on buying accident insurance, term life insurance, and savings insurance.
Because the health notices of these three types of products are relatively relaxed, nodules are generally not asked.
After the nodule is detected, it will mainly affect the purchase of medical insurance and critical illness insurance.
For your convenience, we have tested several million medical insurance and critical illness insurance products with better protection on the market.
Let's take a look at their underwriting requirements for lung nodules.
In general, unremoved nodules are currently excluded from most medical coverage.
Exclusionary coverage means that at the time of underwriting, you inform the insurance company that there is a hidden problem in your lungs, but the problem is not big.
The insurance company also recognizes your physical condition, but the insurance company will not reimburse you for diseases related to the lungs.
Critical illness insurance is relatively more lenient and basically not malignant.
And the nodule is less than 6 mm and does not become significantly larger, it can pass the underwriting.
To sum up, you can choose the right product to buy according to the underwriting conditions and the specific responsibilities of the product.
03
At the end of the writing, I consulted with several doctors to give you some maintenance plans for people with nodules.
The most important of these is regular follow-up and keeping away from dust.
Life is not easy, and good health always comes first.
First of all, be sure to listen to the doctor's advice and follow up regularly!
Some nodules cannot be determined to be benign or malignant, so the doctor will recommend you to go for follow-up.
The changes in nodules after a period of follow-up is an important reference index for judging benign and malignant diseases.
It's important to be sure to go on time!
Stay away from pathogenic factors in your life:
Be sure not to smoke and stay away from secondhand smoke;
Pay attention to the protection of various indoor and outdoor air pollution (industrial exhaust gas, automobile exhaust, household kitchen fumes, etc.);
Avoid all kinds of occupational exposures (coal, petroleum, chemical, cement and other dust, toxic gas, radiation, etc.).
Maintain a good mindset and habits.
Stay away from cancer, such as sulking for a long time, depressed personality or irritable temper tantrums, etc.,
This is also what I said earlier, don't guess, listen to the doctor, don't aggravate the condition because of suspicion.
Adjust the rhythm of life, maintain a regular schedule and a balanced diet,
Avoid overwork and staying up late, and exercise regularly to improve the body's immunity.
Finally, the intern's sister did some health research after her father had pulmonary nodules.
It is not used as a prescription for cases, so we will share it with everyone.
It is recommended to touch less:
Touch persimmons less: persimmons belong to cold things, the lungs are afraid of cold, and people with lung nodules should not overeat.
Avoid touching seafood: Seafood is cold and hairy, avoid long-term consumption of large quantities to stimulate the development of lung nodules.
Less spicy touch: If the lung nodule is not regulated, in addition to local hyperplasia, inflammation may occur, and regular intake of spicy food may accelerate the production of inflammatory substances.
It is recommended to eat more:
Yam: Eating yam in moderation can effectively replenish the body's kidney qi and also play a certain role in moistening the lungs.
Goji berry: It can increase the speed of blood circulation in the body and remove waste and toxins from the body in time.
Lily: Brewing tea with lily or drinking some lily porridge can play a good role in moistening the lungs and relieving cough.
Tremella fuciformis: Tremella fuciformis is rich in trace elements, which has the effect of clearing the lungs and moisturizing the lungs, helping the lungs to clean up garbage and toxins, maintaining the smooth flow of the lungs, keeping the lungs clean, and also preventing the occurrence of lung diseases, and also helping to assist in dispersing knots.
Pears: Eating pears regularly can moisten the lungs and dissolve phlegm, plus pears are rich in dietary fiber, and people with long-term constipation can eat more pears to promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and help the body remove metabolic wastes and toxins.
Sweet potato: Sweet potato has a good dispersing effect, especially sweet potato also has a certain anti-inflammatory effect.
The last of the last,
If the nodule has not been detected, then it is recommended that you configure health insurance as soon as possible.
After all, the body comes first.
As in the beginning, I hope you are safe.