People are being urged to be vigilant for any warning signs of oesophageal cancer that can occur while eating. Oesophageal Awareness Month is marked during February in the UK. Each year, around 9,000 people across the country are affected by oesophageal cancer. The cancer can develop anywhere in the oesophagus, also known as the gullet or food pipe, which links your mouth to your stomach.......Read Full Article>>

The severity of oesophageal cancer can depend on its location, size, whether it has spread (metastasised), and your overall health. However, the exact cause of oesophageal cancer isn’t always clear, as anyone can develop it.

There are two primary types of oesophageal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma (which develops in the thin, flat cells lining the gullet) and adenocarcinoma (which originates from glandular cells and is often associated with Barrett’s oesophagus). There are also some less common types of oesophageal cancer, including neuroendocrine cancer, small cell cancer, and soft tissue sarcomas.

It’s crucial to be aware of the risk factors. To diagnose the cancer, the main tests include an endoscopy, which examines the lining of your oesophagus, stomach and duodenum, reports Gloucestershire Live.

Here are some of the red flag warning signs that can occur when eating, which could indicate symptoms of oesophageal cancer.

Symptoms of oesophageal cancer

MacMillan Cancer Support has highlighted that the most common symptom of oesophageal cancer is difficulty swallowing food. However, the charity also points out that some symptoms can mimic other common conditions.

• Food coming back up before reaching the stomach (regurgitation), feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• Weight loss
• Pain in the chest or back, or pain in the throat or chest when swallowing
• Indigestion or heartburn that does not go away
• A hoarse voice or a cough that does not go away.

If you’re struggling to swallow or are concerned about any other symptoms, it’s crucial to seek medical advice promptly.

Risk factors

It’s important to note that being in a risk factor category doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop oesophageal cancer. Conversely, even without any risk factors, you could still be diagnosed with this type of cancer.

The NHS suggests that many cases of oesophageal cancer are linked to lifestyle choices, such as being overweight, smoking, or excessive alcohol consumption.

Other symptoms include:

• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
• Barrett’s oesophagus
• Being overweight
• Oesophageal cancer is more common in men than in women
• Most oesophageal cancers are diagnosed in people over the age of 40
• Smoking
• Drinking a lot of alcohol
• Eating a diet that is high in fat and cholesterol
• Previous treatment for cancer.

MacMillan also identifies two rare conditions, achalasia and tylosis, which can increase the likelihood of developing this cancer. To help reduce your risk of oesophageal cancer, the NHS advises losing weight if you’re overweight, allowing hot drinks to cool before consuming them, reducing alcohol intake, and quitting smoking.

Salt is a seasoning that can flavor food and act as a preservative. It’s about 60% chloride and about 40% sodium. Nearly all unprocessed foods – think veggies, fruits, nuts, meats, whole grains, and dairy foods – are low in sodium....Read Full Article>>

The salt that we do eat helps relax and contract muscles, lends a hand with nerve impulses, and balances the minerals and water we take in Our body needs only a small amount of sodium. We should get about 1,500 milligrams of it every day. But the average American takes in about 3,400. Too much salt can lead to a stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure. But how do you know if you take in too much salt

YOU’RE BLOATED

Bloating – when your stomach feels swollen or tight – is one of the most common short-term effects of having too much salt. It helps your body retain water, so extra fluid builds up. Foods don’t have to taste salty for them to be high in sodium. Sandwiches, pizza, bagels, and canned soup can be sneaky sources for salt.

YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS HIGH

There are lots of reasons you might have high blood pressure, but one could be too much sodium. The change in blood pressure happens through your kidneys. Too much salt makes it harder for them to get rid of fluid that you don’t need. As a result, your blood pressure goes up.

YOU’RE PUFFY

Swelling can be a sign of too much sodium in your body. Body parts like your face, hands, feet, and ankles are most likely to swell. If you’re more puffy than usual, take a look at how much salt you’re eating.

YOU’RE REALLY THIRSTY

If you’ve been really thirsty lately, it could be a sign that you’re eating too much salt. When that happens, you become dehydrated. Your body pulls water from your cells, and you might start to feel very thirsty. Drinking water can help neutralize that salt and can freshen up your cells.

YOU’VE GAINED WEIGHT

When you retain water, you might gain weight. If you’ve put on pounds quickly over a week or even a few days, it could be because you’re having too much salt. If you gain more than 2 pounds in a day or 4 pounds in a week, think back to the foods you ate during the past few days and try to make changes to cut down on the salt.

YOU USE THE RESTROOM A LOT

More salt could lead to more trips to the bathroom. This could be because salt can make you very thirsty, which might encourage you to drink more water. Later on, you might have to go to the bathroom more than usual.

YOU AREN’T SLEEPING WELL

If you eat too much salt before bed, it can lead to disturbances in your sleep. Signs can range from restless sleep, to waking up often at night, to not feeling rested in the morning.

YOU FEEL WEAK

When there’s too much salt in your blood, water gushes out of your cells to thin out the salt. The result? You might start to feel weaker than usual.

YOUR STOMACH BOTHERS YOU

If too much salt in your diet makes you dehydrated, your stomach will feel it. You might feel nauseated, or you might have diarrhea. If your stomach is upset or you have cramps, take a look at what you’ve been eating during the past few days and figure out how to cut back on the salt. Drinking plenty of water can help rehydrate your cells and get you feeling better.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH SALT

Although there are lots of short-term effects to watch out for, there are also long-term effects of eating too much salt. It might raise your chances of things like enlarged heart muscle, headaches, heart failure, high blood pressure, kidney disease, kidney stones, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, and stroke.

HOW TO CUT DOWN

ON SALT

Since 9 out of 10 Americans get too much sodium, chances are, you might take in too much as well.

To help keep your levels in check: • Choose fresh meats instead of packaged ones • When you buy frozen vegetables, choose ones that are “fresh frozen” and stay away from ones with seasoning or sauces already added • Read labels and check the sodium content in the foods you buy • When choosing spices and seasonings, go for ones that do not list sodium on their labels • If you eat out, you can ask for your dish to be prepared without salt.