LIFESTYLE is defined as the way someone lives, the habits they have on a day-to-day basis, what they eat or drink, how they think and feel.
Alfred Adler defines the style of life as a unique way in which an individual chooses to go about achieving the goal of superiority in important life tasks.
Lifestyle is heavily dependent on one’s childhood, but can also be changed if the person is determined enough.
There is really no blueprint as to how a person can live their life, but there is one on how you can improve your own to make life better.
For example, cancer has become one of the leading causes of death and although some cancers have idiopathic etiologies, some could be due to genetics, your profession etc.
However, when diagnosed with cancer or different health problems, doctors often recommend a healthier lifestyle, which includes eating less sugar and more vegetables, exercising, and meditating to ensure that you do not exacerbate the problem.
Hence, it is a personal choice to live well or not.
Oral cancer refers to the cancers or malignancies that originate from the oral cavity (mouth), lips, as well as the upper part of your throat.
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The causes of these cancers are of multifactorial origin and lifestyle habits represent a major category of risk factors.
How do lifestyle habits prevent cancer progression
The doctors are always encouraging eating natural diets, such as vegetables, fruits, fish, garlic, as they are against processed foods, alcohol, smoking, and possibly sleep disorders as well, but why?
The answer lies in how these habits can influence the body’s internal environment, either fostering a condition resistant to disease or one that is vulnerable to it.
Diet
About 10-20% of cancers are related to a poor diet. This is because a lack of essential nutrients can lead to an increase in inflammation in the body, causing oxidative stress. This occurs when there is an abundance of free radicals — unstable molecules that can steal electrons from other body molecules, causing damage to cells, proteins and DNA. This damage can lead to mutations that initiate cancer development or fuel its progression.
A diet rich in whole, natural foods acts as a powerful countermeasure. Fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and selenium, which donate electrons to neutralise free radicals, effectively disarming them.
Furthermore, foods like broccoli, kale and garlic contain phytochemicals like sulforaphane and allicin, which have been shown to possess anti-cancer properties by enhancing the body's own detoxification enzymes and slowing the growth of cancerous cells.
The fibre in these foods also supports a healthy gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in regulating systemic inflammation and immune function.
High sugar diets
Sugar can naturally stimulate chronic inflammation. Besides just offering “empty calories”, consuming a lot of sugar has a darker purpose.
Insulin and blood glucose levels rise quickly when too much refined sugar and carbohydrates are consumed.
High insulin levels over time may encourage the proliferation of cells, including malignant and precancerous ones.
In addition, cancer cells have a special metabolism called the Warburg effect, which allows them to use glucose far more frequently than healthy cells in order to support their fast growth.
Thus, a high-sugar diet effectively gives cancer cells that are already there premium fuel, which could hasten the growth of tumours. For cancer to thrive, it needs sugar or glucose.
In addition to helping to maintain stable insulin levels, cutting back on sugar deprives these cells of their preferred energy source, which makes the environment less conducive to the growth of cancer.
Tobacco and alcohol use
The two most important lifestyle risk factors for oral cancer, in particular, are alcohol and tobacco use.
Smoking or chewing tobacco exposes one to more than 70 recognised carcinogens.
The cells that line the mouth and throat are directly harmed genetically by these substances.
Additionally, they cause a persistent state of irritation and inflammation, disrupt the respiratory tract's cilia, which permits toxins to build up and inhibit immune surveillance, which makes it more difficult for the body to identify and eliminate aberrant cells.
As a solvent, alcohol facilitates the entry of additional carcinogens, such as those found in tobacco, into the oral cavity’s mucosal cells.
Additionally, it is converted to acetaldehyde, a hazardous substance that can harm DNA and hinder its repair. Alcohol and tobacco have a particularly harmful synergy; when combined, they greatly increase a person’s risk of acquiring mouth cancer.
Physical activity and stress management
One of the main components of a lifestyle that prevents cancer is regular physical activity.
Exercise aids in the regulation of hormone levels, such as oestrogen and insulin, which have been connected to some types of cancer.
Additionally, it strengthens the immune system, which makes it easier for the body to identify and eliminate abnormal cells.
Additionally, because obesity itself is a major risk factor for many malignancies due to the inflammatory cytokines released by extra adipose tissue, exercise is an effective way to reduce chronic inflammation and help to maintain a healthy body weight.
Similarly, The body’s defences can also be severely weakened by ongoing stress.
Cortisol, a hormone that may eventually weaken the immune system and increase inflammation, is produced in large quantities by the body when it is under continuous stress.
Meditation, yoga are among the practices that have been demonstrated to reduce inflammation, lower cortisol levels and enhance psychological well-being.
These practices create a physiological state that is less favourable to the growth of cancer.
The power of personal choice
Making consistent, thoughtful decisions is the key to leading a healthier lifestyle rather than striving for perfection.
Adopting these modifications is an essential supplement to medical treatment for a patient with a diagnosis such as mouth cancer. It can lessen side effects, increase the effectiveness of treatment and lower the chance of recurrence.
These behaviours provide a strong biological basis for those who want to avoid illness.
In the end, our everyday lifestyle decisions constitute a potent area of human agency, even though we are unable to alter our genetic makeup or fully regulate every environmental exposure.
We actively create our internal landscape by eating a diet rich in nutrients, abstaining from tobacco and excessive alcohol, maintaining an active lifestyle and managing stress.
Oral health cancers can lead to death. We should never underestimate them because they are in the mouth. If you suspect any malignancy, run to the dental clinic for an exam.
