Colon cancer cases are increasing among young people and there are many risk factors. Lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption and poor gut health increase the risk of this cancer. Processed foods and red meat are also harmful. Colon cancer can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle and avoiding these risk factors.

These days, cases of colon cancer are increasing rapidly among the youth. Cancer is a serious disease that can make anyone its victim. There are many types of it, one of which is colon cancer. This disease, which earlier often affected the elderly, is now affecting young people under the age of 50 as well.

In such a situation, it is important to take care of some important things to prevent this serious cancer. Colon cancer can make anyone its victim due to many reasons. In such a situation, it is very important to know about its symptoms and causes. Today in this article, we will learn about the 5 risk factors of colon cancer from Dr. Mohit Sharma , Clinical Director and HOD of Medical Oncology at Maringo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad, which increase its risk.

Lack of physical activity

Lack of physical activity is one of the major risk factors for colon cancer. Sitting for long periods of time without any exercise or workout weakens the digestive system and slows down the process of cancer prevention. Studies have shown that people who walk or cycle for at least 150 minutes a week are less likely to develop colon cancer.

Unhealthy diet

These days, people's eating habits have also changed a lot. In such a situation, a diet rich in processed foods increases the risk of colon cancer. Some studies show that eating processed foods as well as red meat like sausage, bacon and beef increases the risk of colon cancer. These foods contain special chemicals that damage the lining of the colon and trigger changes in the cells, leading to disease.

Obesity

Young people are at a higher risk of developing colon cancer when they become obese. Obesity is a major risk factor for this cancer. When people gain weight, their bodies experience hormonal changes and persistent inflammation, creating an environment where colon cancer cells thrive.

Smoking and alcohol

Smoking cigarettes and drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of colon cancer. The chemicals in tobacco smoke damage cells and drinking too much alcohol has a bad effect on immunity and digestive organs. In such a situation, young people who smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol in large quantities are more likely to get colon cancer than those who do not smoke.

Poor gut health

When inflammation in the gut due to inflammatory bowel disease persists for a long time, it increases the risk of colon cancer. Unhealthy eating, along with stress and certain infections, disturb the balance of gut bacteria, causing damage to the lining of the colon and thus  poor gut health  . This environment promotes the growth of cancer cells over time.