World Brain Tumour Day observed on June 8 every year serves as a reminder of the importance of raising awareness and understanding the factors that contribute to brain tumours. It can develop from neuronal factors within the brain or the spread of cancer from another organ of the body, such as the lungs, breast, kidney, or prostate. Among the many potential risk factors, excessive smoking and alcohol consumption have garnered attention for their potential links to increased risk.
Dr Praveen Gupta, Director and Unit Head, Neurology, at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, explained that excessive smoking and alcohol consumption can increase the risk for brain tumours.
Understanding Brain Tumours
Brain tumours are abnormal growths that originate in the brain tissue or spread from other parts of the body. It can be classified into benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Malignant tumours, often known as brain cancer, are more aggressive and represent a greater threat to the patient's health.
Also Read: 5 Symptoms That Point Towards A Diagnosis Of Brain Tumour
Link Between Smoking And Brain Tumour
Dr Gupta said that smoking causes the risk of multiple cancers to increase. It can increase cancer by causing oxidative damage to cells or causing mutations in cell signalling which creates proteins for cell division.
He added that uncontrolled cell division leads to cancer. The evidence for smoking increasing the risk of cancer is conflicting. One population-based case-control study by Lei Hou in China showed cancer risk to increase by 9% in men and 16% in women. However, some other studies have failed to show the linkage of smoking with cancer.
Can Excessive Alcohol Consumption Increase Risk For Brain Tumour?
Dr Gupta said that in a meta-analysis of 24 research studies in 2.3 million people, it was found little evidence of risk in men and slightly elevated risk in women. As far as alcohol is concerned, it is also associated with cell toxicity and damage and is linked to liver cancer. He added that a dose-response study showed an increased risk of brain cancer in people having more than two drinkers a day.
He further said that in a population-based case-control study from North America, 18% increased the risk of brain cancer. However, studies from Europe and Asia didn't show this correlation. A meta-analysis of 18 studies failed to show any robust association. Thus, studies show conflicting evidence of the linkage of smoking and alcohol to brain cancer.
Also Read: Brain Fogginess: Causes And How To Deal With It
Bottomline
While excessive smoking and alcohol consumption have been the subject of investigation, their direct impact on the development of brain tumours is not fully understood. However, it is important to note that adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol, can have numerous benefits for overall well-being and reduce the risk of various other diseases.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is provided by the expert, however, we recommend you to consult with your expert for a diagnosis based on your body type and medical history.