Can your everyday lifestyle affect your lung cancer risk?

The way you live and the environment around you can influence your lung health over a lifetime. While smoking is one of the most important preventable risk factors for lung cancer, experts say it is important not to overlook other sources of exposure, including second-hand smoke, household smoke, outdoor air pollution and certain workplace hazards.

For many people in India, these exposures can become part of everyday life. A person may spend hours in traffic, work in a dusty environment or cook in a poorly ventilated kitchen. Individually, these may seem like ordinary parts of daily life, but repeated exposure to harmful particles and pollutants can affect the respiratory system over time.

The 2026 World Lung Day theme, "A Lifetime of Lung Health", focuses on protecting lung health at every stage of life. World Lung Day is observed on September 25 and highlights the importance of prevention, clean air and healthy habits.

According to Prof. (Dr.) Amitabha Chakrabarti, Senior Consultant, Thoracic & Vascular Surgery, Narayana RN Tagore Hospital, Mukundapur, Kolkata, protecting the lungs requires attention to both personal habits and the environment in which a person lives.

Smoking cigarettes and beedis is strongly associated with lung cancer. Tobacco smoke contains numerous harmful substances that can damage lung tissue and cause changes in cells over time. The American Lung Association identifies cigarette smoking as the major cause of lung cancer.

The risk is not limited to people who smoke heavily. Regular exposure over many years matters, and second-hand smoke can also expose non-smokers to harmful substances.

Vaping and e-cigarettes should also not be viewed as completely harmless. Their aerosols can contain nicotine and other chemicals and particles. Avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke and vaping aerosols, particularly in enclosed spaces, is an important part of protecting lung health.INDOOR SMOKE CAN BE AN OVERLOOKED EXPOSURE

Indoor air quality can also matter. In households where wood, coal or other solid fuels are burned for cooking or heating, smoke can accumulate, particularly when ventilation is poor.

People who spend several hours in households smoking can have prolonged exposure to particulate matter and other pollutants. In some households, women who regularly cook may therefore experience substantial exposure.

Improving ventilation and reducing exposure to household smoke can help create a cleaner indoor environment. The broader World Lung Day campaign also highlights clean air as an important part of lifelong lung health.OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION ALSO MATTERS

For people living in or travelling through highly polluted urban areas, outdoor air pollution is another concern. Fine particulate matter can enter deep into the respiratory system, while traffic-related pollution can add to the overall exposure.

People who spend long periods on busy roads or in heavy traffic may therefore be exposed to pollutants repeatedly. The American Lung Association recommends avoiding outdoor exercise near heavy traffic and taking steps to reduce exposure during periods of poor air quality.

Air pollution is also recognised internationally as an important threat to lung health. FIRS has repeatedly highlighted clean air as a central part of its World Lung Day campaigns.DIET AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SUPPORT OVERALL LUNG HEALTH

Lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity also form part of overall lung health. A balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods supports general health, while regular physical activity helps maintain fitness and respiratory capacity.

However, these factors should not be presented as direct substitutes for avoiding established lung cancer risks. Quitting tobacco, avoiding second-hand smoke and reducing exposure to harmful pollutants remain particularly important preventive steps.

The World Lung Day campaign itself encourages healthy eating and physical activity alongside clean air and being smoke-free.DO NOT IGNORE PERSISTENT BREATHING SYMPTOMS

Protecting lung health also means paying attention to symptoms that do not go away. A persistent or unexplained cough, continuing breathlessness, wheezing or a noticeable change in breathing should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Not every cough or episode of breathlessness indicates cancer, but persistent or worsening symptoms should not simply be ignored. The American Lung Association notes that symptoms such as persistent cough and unexplained shortness of breath warrant medical evaluation.

This World Lung Day, the message is about thinking of lung health as something that needs protection throughout life. Avoiding tobacco, limiting exposure to smoke and polluted air, improving indoor ventilation, staying physically active and seeking medical advice for persistent symptoms can all contribute to healthier lungs.

As the theme "A Lifetime of Lung Health" emphasises, protecting the lungs is not about one change made on one day. It is about reducing harmful exposures and making healthier choices consistently over the years.- Ends

Smarica Pant is a senior digital media content writer and editor with over 13 years of experience in news reporting and feature writing. A natural storyteller with a keen eye for emerging trends, she has consistently delivered impactful content that informs, engages and resonates with diverse audiences.

With strong expertise in multimedia storytelling, social media strategy and SEO-led content, Smarica has successfully navigated and adapted to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Her strength lies in shaping compelling narratives while upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Over the years, she has also mentored young writers, led key editorial initiatives and played an active role in building content strategies that balance reach with relevance.