Quit Smoking for Your Bladder Health | Tennessee Valley Urology Center
This month, Tennessee Valley Urology Center wants to talk to you about bladder cancer. Most people don’t know this, but smoking tobacco is the single most important risk factor for bladder cancer that we know of.
When you smoke cigarettes, the toxins from the smoke not only enter your body, but they also have to find a way out. Carcinogens from smoke leave the body through your urinary tract.
That means your bladder can be exposed to very high concentrations of toxins from cigarette smoke. As a result, researchers have discovered very high rates of bladder cancer among smokers.
In fact, the American Cancer Society says that smokers are at least three times as likely to get bladder cancer as nonsmokers.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that half of all cases of bladder cancer are found in smokers.
Former smokers are also twice as likely to develop bladder cancer as those who never smoked; while current smokers are four times more likely.
The results are clear. Quitting smoking is paramount to the health of your bladder.
These days, experts warn that bladder cancer is rising among women, all because they are smoking more.
According to the NIH, bladder cancer among women has nearly doubled in recent years.
Can you recognize the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer?
It’s important to know the symptoms since many people wait too long to seek medical attention. The typical symptoms include:
- Blood in your urine
- Recurrent bladder infections
- Frequent or burning during urination
Bladder cancer recognized at an early stage is highly curable.
The best way to prevent bladder cancer is to never take up smoking, quit smoking if you’re a current smoker, and aim for early detection. That means going to the doctor right away if you have any symptoms.
Quitting smoking isn’t easy, but it’s the one lifestyle change that most benefits your overall health. You can read more about quitting here. You can also read more about bladder cancer prevention lifestyle tips.
Here at the Tennessee Valley Urology Center, we care about your bladder health! Visit our website today to learn more about our center and schedule an appointment.