Janet Ogundepo Medical experts have warned that a high intake of salt may damage the gastric mucosa, the innermost lining of the stomach wall, leading to inflammation and an increased risk of gastric cancer. The gastroenterologists, who specialise in diagnosing and treating diseases affecting the digestive system, also noted that excessive salt consumption can aggravate the activity of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that can cause stomach infections and is a common cause of peptic ulcers. The National Cancer Institute defines gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, as a malignant tumour that begins in the cells lining the stomach According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were about 1.
1 million cases and 770,000 deaths due to stomach cancer globally in 2020. Medscape, a medical blog, reports that gastric cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although data on the burden of gastric cancer in Nigeria is limited, independent studies and experts report a rise in cases.
In separate interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, the gastroenterologists identified several risk factors for gastric cancer including, high salt diets, tobacco smoking, Helicobacter pylori, obesity, radiation, familial history of stomach cancer, previous gastric surgery and excessive alcohol consumption. A recent study carried out in the United Kingdom and published in a journal, Gastric Cancer, reports that people who ad.
