it’s very crucial to know about the risk factors of colon cancer and stop them if possible.
Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and the number of diagnosed people with this condition is rising every year.
In this article, we talk about the most important 9 risk factors of colon cancer.
9 risk factors of colon cancer
1- older age
90 percent of the people diagnosed with colon cancer are older than 50 years. But unfortunately, the incidence of colon cancer among the younger population is also increasing.
2- obesity
Obesity is one of the most important risk factors in different medical conditions. Studies showed that the risk of getting colon cancer among obese people is much bigger than others that have a normal weight.
3- smoking
Like obesity, smoking is another common risk factor for different kinds of diseases. People who have smoked for a long period are more likely to develop colon cancer.
4- alcohol use
Among other medical conditions caused by alcohol consumption, colon cancer is linked to even light alcohol intake.
5- not being physically active
Recent studies showed that being physically active can reduce the risk of developing colon cancer and also being inactive is a risk factor for developing this condition.
6- poor diet
Having a healthy diet plays a major role in lowering the chance of getting colon cancer and on the other hand having large amounts of processed meat and saturated fat is linked to developing colon cancer. So, it’s very important to have a healthy diet and choose it properly.
7- history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
The risk of developing colon cancer among people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increased. IBD is a chronic medical condition in which the colon is inflamed and susceptible to getting cancer.
8- family history of colon cancer
If a member of your family has a history of colon cancer, it’s much more likely for you to develop colon cancer. So, it’s very important to be aware of your family history of certain medical conditions because if you have a positive family history of having colon cancer, the screening tests for detecting colon cancer in its early stages should be done earlier.
9- family or personal history of having polyps
Having a previous personal history or a first-degree relative with a history of colorectal polyps is also linked to an increased risk of colon cancer.
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