Risk of developing lung cancer
There are over 200 types of cancer and the cancer with the deadliest reputation is lung cancer. People who smoke have the greatest risk of developing lung cancer, though it can also occur in people who have never smoked. The disease rarely produces any warning signs in the initial stages, so it is harder to detect it at a point when it is still manageable. By the time more troubling symptoms appear, such as recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis, the cancer has likely already spread.
However, there are certain signs and symptoms which may point to the fact that a tumour is building pressure on your heart. As per experts, this lesser-known sign of the potentially deadly disease is heart palpitations.
Palpitations and lung cancer
Palpitations are defined as a rapid pulsation or abnormally rapid or irregular beating of the heart. Patients often describe palpitations as a rapid fluttering in the chest, a skipped beat, or a pounding sensation in their chest.
According to the European Cardiology Review (ECR), palpitations are a common occurrence in people with cancer. It may be happening from the lungs putting pressure on the heart. However, palpitations do not necessarily imply that you have lung cancer. Stress, exercise, medication and several other temporary factors can also lead to this feeling of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart.
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Other signs of lung cancer
Since palpitations are a rare warning sign, doctors recommend being alert to lookout for other warning signs of the disease as well. These can include a chest infection that persists, coughing up blood, or an ache when breathing and coughing. Loss of appetite, weight loss for no known reason, fatigue and trouble swallowing are also symptoms of lung cancer.
Clubbing of the fingers also occurs in 35 percent of people with non-small cell lung cancer. In this, the ends of the fingers swell up in stages. First, the base of the nail becomes soft and the skin around the nail bed becomes shiny. Next, the nails begin to curve more than normal. Finally, the ends of the fingers swell, caused by fluid collecting in the soft tissues of the fingers.
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What causes lung cancer?
Lung cancer occurs when a cancer-causing agent triggers the growth of abnormal cells in the lung. In most lung cancer cases, the carcinogen (agent capable of causing cancer) that promotes tumour growth is cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoking is the biggest contributor to lung cancer, accounting for 80-to-90 percent of all cases. While lung cancer generally is not inherited, specific non inherited mutations can cause some people to develop this cancer. Radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, followed by exposure to toxic chemicals. It is important to consult your doctor if you develop any symptom associated with the disease. Lung cancer screening is the best hope to catch the disease before it gets too late to treat.