A new study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) revealed that one in 8 new cancer cases around the world during 2024 will be associated with an infection.
According to the American magazine Newsweek, this number equates to 2.3 million cases (or 12 percent) of new cancer cases that year, with five types of infection causing a large percentage of these cases.
These types are Helicobacter pylori, which has been linked to about 760,000 cases of cancer, most of them stomach cancer; human papillomavirus, which has been linked to about 750,000 cases, most of which were cervical cancer, in addition to cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, and some head and neck cancers; hepatitis B virus, which has been linked to about 360,000 cases, most of them liver cancer; and the Epstein-Barr virus, which has been linked to about 260,000 cases, mainly including nasopharyngeal cancer. Some stomach cancers, and the hepatitis C virus, which was linked to about 160,000 cases, most of which were liver cancer.
Accordingly; The findings suggest that “a significant proportion of the global burden of cancer could be prevented through improved infection control,” the researchers stated.
Dr. Patrick Moore, head of innovative cancer research at the University of Pittsburgh, said: “This ratio - one in eight cancer patients - is equivalent to lung cancer as a proportion of the total cancer cases in the United States. It is not a rare or unimportant problem.”
He added that the International Agency for Research on Cancer's estimates may be "very conservative." Which means that “the actual proportion of cancer cases resulting from infection is likely to be greater than this.”
The study showed that the highest burdens of infection-related cancer appeared in East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
The researchers noted that these geographic differences are likely due to “variation in the prevalence of infection, access to prevention and treatment, and broader social and economic conditions.”
The researchers called on policy makers and health systems to expand the scope of proven infection prevention methods, most notably vaccinations, and provide screening and treatment for cancer-related infections, in addition to strengthening methods to prevent transmission.
A new study reveals that children spending too much time in front of screens may cause them more harm than that caused by being born into poverty.
According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, researchers from the University of Calgary in Canada analyzed data from more than 2.8 million children, from 23 previous statistical reviews, and looked into different patterns of screen use, such as playing electronic games, using social media, and watching online content, and their relationship to the child’s development.
Researchers found that increased time children spent in front of screens was associated with lower overall academic achievement and poorer development of language skills, along with difficulties forming friendships and relationships with peers.
Greater use of screens has also been linked to increased symptoms of anxiety and depression, in addition to some behavioral problems, such as aggression and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
The researchers noted that the strength of these connections “outweighs” other influences that have been proven to affect a child’s development, such as birth into poverty, poor social status, poor parental behavior, and premature birth.
“Our review revealed that so-called ‘doses’ of screen exposure, when high, are associated with lower overall academic achievement and poorer language development, as well as increased behavioral and emotional problems, and difficulties relating to peers,” the researchers wrote.
However, the researchers acknowledged that the study could not prove that screens were the direct cause of the problems that appeared in children. The trend could also be the opposite, as a child who already suffers from psychological or behavioral problems may resort to screens for longer periods.
Also, family and social circumstances may affect the time a child spends in front of the screen and his psychological state.
Previous research has shown that the relationship between screens and behavioral and psychological problems may be mutual. A research review published last year, which analyzed 117 studies that included more than 292,000 children, indicated that increased screen use preceded the emergence of some emotional and behavioral problems in children, and at the same time, children who were already experiencing difficulties spent more time in front of screens.
A person may go through periods in which he feels that his body has become older than his actual age, as he experiences blurry thinking, frequent fatigue, shortness of breath, or infection more often than usual.
According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, these symptoms may indicate a premature decline in the efficiency of the body's cells and organs, especially with malnutrition, lack of movement, sleep disturbance, and constant stress.
But what is striking is that the body's organs do not age at the same rate. A study conducted by Stanford University found that about one in five people over fifty had at least one organ aging faster than expected.
Here's how to identify organs that may be under stress or strain, and what to do about it:
Brain
“If you often feel mentally foggy and anxious, or have difficulty concentrating, it may be a sign that your brain is aging prematurely,” says Dr. Josh Axe, a professor of functional medicine.
The brain is the body's most energy-consuming organ, as it consumes 20 percent of the total energy the body needs.
Neurons in the brain depend on huge numbers of mitochondria, which are the energy production centers in the cell, to convert glucose and fats into energy.
“When mitochondria weaken, brain function slows down,” Ax says. Likewise, when inflammation disrupts the functioning of neurotransmitters, your mood may be negatively affected, and when blood flow is disturbed, memory and the ability to concentrate may decline.”
To maintain brain health, experts advise following a diet based on protein and foods rich in fiber, eating colorful vegetables and fruits, and fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, in addition to practicing regular physical activity.
It is also recommended to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep, reduce stress, and allocate about 20 minutes a day to learning a new skill, which helps form new connections between brain cells.
Cardiovascular
The heart and blood vessels work non-stop to deliver oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body, but with hardening of the arteries, the buildup of inflammation, decreased mitochondrial efficiency, and the effects of stress and fatigue, your “heart age” may begin to increase.
Doctors warn that heart problems may develop silently, as feeling that a person is healthy does not necessarily mean that the heart and blood vessels are free of problems.
Dr. Will Cole, who is also a specialist in functional medicine, said that health checks become especially important in middle age, calling for monitoring blood pressure, fat and blood sugar levels, and discussing risk factors related to heart health with the doctor.
To maintain heart health, doctors recommend a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fatty fish, nuts, and olive oil, in addition to regular brisk walking, aerobic activity, and muscle-strengthening exercises.
Liver
The liver acts as one of the most important centers for processing chemicals in the body. It participates in dealing with nutrients and medications, and helps regulate sugar, fats, and hormones and eliminate some harmful substances from the blood.
The stress on the liver is not limited to alcohol consumption, as weight gain, insulin resistance, and a diet rich in highly processed foods can affect its health.
Possible signs of declining liver health may include feelings of lethargy, constipation, disturbed metabolism, and hormonal imbalance, but the problem is that the liver may be exposed to stress before clear symptoms appear.
Experts advise reducing added sugars and highly processed foods, and increasing the number of vegetables, especially spinach, broccoli, and asparagus, in addition to fruits rich in fiber.
Regular movement also helps reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver and improve blood sugar control, with the importance of drinking a sufficient amount of water and not consuming alcohol.
Immune system
As we age, the efficiency of the immune system may decline, a process known as immune senescence.
As its ability to eliminate infection and damaged cells decreases, low-grade inflammation may increase within the body, which can affect the health of cells over time.
Frequent infections or slow recovery from them may be signs worth paying attention to, along with constant feelings of exhaustion, fatigue, and mental confusion.
The immune system is also linked to intestinal health, as there is a large percentage of immune cells in the digestive system, and the microorganisms present in it play a role in training the immune system and regulating its response.
Lifestyle factors, such as poor diet and stress, can accelerate the aging of the immune system.
To enhance immune health, experts advise relying on whole foods rich in nutrients, reducing highly processed foods, added sugars and refined carbohydrates, in addition to eating fermented foods such as yogurt and kefir.
Moderate movement and adequate sleep also play a role in supporting the immune system and reducing inflammation, with the importance of reducing stress through activities that help relaxation, such as meditation, calm breathing, and walking in nature.
