There is a kind of cancer that is caused by burning

This is the 3666th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

Eating while hot is a dietary habit of many people. Chinese people's three meals a day are basically hot food, hot water, hot tea, hot coffee. Hot pot, spicy hot pot, roasted sweet potato. According to a survey report, people in some parts of my country like hot tea, hot water or coffee above 65℃ or 70℃, but you may not know that there is a kind of cancer caused by burns, which is esophageal cancer.

We all know that when the skin is scalded by hot water, it will turn red. It will hurt. It may even cause small blisters. The same is true for our esophageal mucosa and gastric mucosa, and the mucosa is more delicate than the skin. It is more susceptible to thermal stimulation. The World Health Organization has clearly defined hot water above 65 degrees Celsius as a Class 2A carcinogen. Frequent and habitual consumption of hot food is closely related to the occurrence of esophageal cancer. So when we eat hot pot and drink hot water, we should test it with our lips or hands. If our lips feel hot, we should wait a while before eating. Eating less or preferably no hot food can significantly reduce the risk of esophageal cancer.

As the saying goes, disease comes from the mouth. This saying is vividly reflected in the occurrence of esophageal cancer. In addition to hot food, the following eating habits are closely related to esophageal cancer:

Frequently eat: smoked or grilled foods, pickled foods, high-temperature fried foods, and moldy foods; the nitrosamines and aflatoxins in them are clear carcinogens.

Eating too quickly

Frequent smoking and drinking;

Being picky about food and having an unbalanced diet: eating too little or no fresh vegetables, fruits, and grains, and lack of vitamins AB2C are also risk factors for esophageal cancer.

Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer

Early

There may be no symptoms, but there may be a choking sensation or a foreign body sensation when swallowing rough or large pieces of food, and a burning sensation or tingling discomfort behind the sternum. Most of these symptoms are not typical.

Middle and late stage

There will be obvious difficulty in swallowing, and even a choking feeling when eating liquid food. The patient will often vomit mucous saliva/phlegm, become emaciated, weak, and even have pain in the chest and back. If the recurrent laryngeal nerve is invaded, hoarseness will occur.

How to detect early

Early tumors are almost unnoticeable, so physical examinations are particularly important. Gastroscopy, as a very intuitive examination method, is of great significance for the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer. People over 40 years old with the above bad eating habits, especially those with a family history of esophageal cancer or those from areas with a high incidence of esophageal cancer, are all at high risk of esophageal cancer.

How to prevent it?

Improve your eating habits

Let food cool before eating and eat slowly.

Improve your diet

Do not eat or eat less smoked, grilled, fried, or pickled foods; do not eat expired or moldy foods; eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, and grains.

High-risk groups should pay attention to gastroscopy screening.

Author: East China Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

Han Rui, attending physician of the emergency department

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