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Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Why your addictive personality is increasing your cancer risk
When we talk about addiction, it's usually smoking or drinking alcohol that comes to mind. Most of us are aware that these are behaviours that may rush us towards poor health and, potentially, a cancer diagnosis. The statistics speak for themselves: six million people smoke, 24 per cent have too much alcohol and two-thirds are overweight or obese and, since 1995, cancer cases have increased every year in England (with the exception of 2020, when the drop in diagnoses is widely considered a result of a pandemic-fuelled NHS disruption.) But there are other lower-level addictions that go under the radar that can be just as damaging to our health. It's these lesser-known dependencies that are subtly increasing our risk of cancer that Dr Raphael Cuomo, a cancer epidemiologist and professor at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, wants to draw our attention to. You might jokingly confess that you've got an 'addictive personality', you're 'addicted to crisps' or 'addicted to looking at your phone' – but Dr Cuomo wants us to take these addictive behaviours more seriously. In his new book, Crave: The Hidden Biology of Addiction and Cancer, he explores how our supposed addictions to sugar and excessive screen time could be reshaping our biology to make us more susceptible to cancer. 'These are the addictions that we may not appreciate as seriously – like the constant need to be on a phone and scrolling through social media, the constant need to snack on processed foods.' They might not be classed as cancer-causing by leading cancer authorities, but Dr Cuomo argues that these habits trigger cellular changes that are depleting our health and can make us more vulnerable to the disease. 'I want to raise awareness that these low-grade addictions are not just a negative thing in isolation but they have a bigger consequence on the long-term risk of disease,' Dr Cuomo says. Screen addictions mess with your hormone production – and your health 'Even when you're just scrolling through your phone, you see something interesting and it gives you this low-grade high, this dopamine rush – and you want more,' Dr Cuomo says. This process, of exposure to engaging pictures and videos mixed in with less interesting content, is known as variable reinforcement, which he likens to playing on a slot machine. 'It keeps you scrolling and scrolling, hoping that you're going to get that dopamine hit,' he explains. 'We are hoping for the high of something interesting showing up on the newsfeed. The companies that make these products know about these mechanisms and they're manufactured with this in mind.' While addiction to screens is not widely medically recognised, the NHS launched a National Centre for Gaming Disorders in 2019 amid a rising number of people seeking help for being unable to control their video game use. Compulsive time spent scrolling through our devices causes spikes in the stress hormone, cortisol. 'The cortisol will prevent the relaxation needed in order to repair DNA breaks and it will also prevent our immune system from clearing out damaged cells,' Dr Cuomo argues. 'When you're looking at screens constantly, especially late at night, you get exposed to blue light which suppresses melatonin,' he says. This is a hormone that supports our body clock and has cancer-protective effects. Being addicted to sugar compromises your immune system In the UK, we're hooked on sugar, eating 18 teaspoons on average per day when a maximum of eight teaspoons is recommended – and Dr Cuomo believes we're addicted. Just last year, a collection of renowned experts gathered at the International Food Addiction Consensus Conference to get addiction to highly processed junk foods officially recognised as a condition by both WHO and leading psychiatry institutions. 'When we consume sugary or junk food, it tastes good and makes us feel good,' he says. Sugar triggers the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with pleasure. 'We eat this food and suddenly we're feeling better,' he says. This pattern causes us to seek out sugary, high-calorie food repeatedly, which Dr Cuomo believes is sugar addiction. The problem is that when sugar enters our system, it spikes our insulin levels and stimulates insulin-like growth factor one (IGF-1), a hormone that promotes cell growth. In short bursts, these responses are normal, but when experienced repeatedly, cells begin to divide and multiply more rapidly, Dr Cuomo says. 'Repeatedly, over time, that will promote the development of tumours.' The types of food that we're most likely to become hooked on – which are high in sugar, refined carbohydrates and additives – also trigger low-grade inflammation, which hampers our immune system and could make it less equipped to identify and eliminate abnormal cells, he says. Three ways to tackle your addictive behaviours 'These addictive behaviours are not fixed,' Dr Cuomo notes. 'People can escape them and reverse the risk of cancer.' This is seen among smokers who quit as, after around 12 years of no longer using cigarettes, their risk of lung cancer is half that of someone who still smokes. 'Risk is fluid and, ideally, to keep risk minimal, we would engage in these behaviours not very much overall,' he adds. These are his tips on kicking your reliance on sugar and screens. 1. Tackle the root cause of your behaviours We turn to addictive behaviours as a way of displacing stress and as a source of comfort. 'We're seeking a kind of distraction to prevent us from dealing with the bigger issues, from relaxing and allowing our bodies to sit and repair,' Dr Cuomo says. It's uncomfortable to stop and think about what you're trying to escape from, but tackling the source of stress or trigger for reaching for food or your phone can help to replace it with healthier behaviours, he suggests. 2. Take an enforced break 'I would encourage people to attempt a reset,' Dr Cuomo says. 'I think that if you can achieve seven days without something, then you tend to start to break free from the addiction.' This would mean going for a whole week without eating sugar or engaging with the screen-based activity you feel you're addicted to, such as social media. 'Then you can re-engage, but you shouldn't be dependent upon it.' 'Seven days is a very high bar for a lot of people,' he notes. If it seems like too much, then start with one-day breaks, building up until you reach seven. 'Create barriers,' Dr Cuomo recommends. These include not buying any sugary foods or putting them in a more awkward location to get to, such as the top shelf of a cupboard. To cut back on using certain apps, you can remove them from your phone. 'You want to make the habits you've developed an addiction to be more difficult to engage with.' 3. Stick to a sleep schedule A regular sleeping pattern can help to regulate cortisol and melatonin levels, and it interrupts the loop of compulsive reward-seeking, better equipping you to steer clear of your unhealthy habits. 'Do the same thing every night before bed,' Dr Cuomo suggests. 'Go to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning, even on the weekend.'
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Be aware of the hidden dangers of your guilty pleasures that could cause cancer, including being busy
A sip of wine, a craving for pizza, having a full calendar may all seem like harmless aspects of life but a scientist has revealed such seemingly innocent actions could be putting you on the brink of developing cancer. University of California's Dr Raphael Cuomo claims chronic stress, fast food, alcohol, and drugs are an almost surefire way to set yourself up for a diagnosis with the disease later in life. In Dr Cuomo's new book Crave: The Hidden Biology Of Addiction And Cancer, he noted that the body's repetitive desire to indulge in junk food and addictive behaviors drove the body to the deadly condition: 'Crave reveals how modern habits like vaping, binge-eating, and daily cannabis use hijack our biology.' The expert added: 'These behaviors quietly damage the body's ability to repair itself. Over time, they open the door to cancer. It is not about genetics or bad luck. It is about the choices we make every day.' Over 600,000 Americans and more than 150,000 Brits die of various cancers every year. After studying 'millions of patient records' from across the University of California hospitals and spending months reviewing studies on cancer biology, Dr Cuomo revealed what he says are the top habits most likely to cause the destructive illness. Fast food Dr Cuomo called eating fast food 'slow poison', and noted that its effects could not be seen immediately but might cause long-term damage. Earlier this year, researchers tested more than 300 foods sold at restaurant chains and in grocery stores across America for two microscopic toxins that have been linked to cancer, infertility, and autism. They found that of all fast-food restaurants, the salad chain Sweetgreen and coffeehouse Starbucks scored poorest. Sweetgreen's Chicken Pesto Parm Salad and Starbucks' Matcha Latte was found to contain the highest amount of phthalates, a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and transparent. Studies showed that phthalates, commonly used in food packaging material, imitate the body's hormones and interfere with the production of and response to natural hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Some phthalates were linked to certain cancers, particularly breast cancer and lymphoma. However, Dr Cuomo pointed towards fiber consumption as a critical part of reversing damage as it would help improve gut bacteria, reduce inflammation, and keep cells healthy. Smoking and drinking Smoking causes about 30 per cent of overall cancer deaths in the U.S. and is a leading cause of lung, brain, neck, and bladder cancer. Alcohol consumption's been linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast, colon, liver, and esophageal cancer. About 20,000 people die of booze-related cancers, annually. Researchers in Germany found that a combination of drinking and smoking significantly raised the risk of colon cancer in young Americans. Researchers analyzed two dozen studies, comparing regular drinkers and smokers with people who abstained from both. Just 100 cigarettes in a person's lifetime - the equivalent of one per week for two years - was linked to a 59 per cent higher risk of colon cancer compared to people who never smoked. They also found drinking alcohol every day raised the risk of developing early onset colon cancer by 39 per cent, even if it's just one or two drinks per day. Alcohol and smoking have both been linked to cancer in the past, as they release chemicals that destroy DNA and cause cells to mutate. Also, each daily can of beer or glass of wine further increased the chance by an additional two per cent. In his book, Dr Cuomo noted that deep sleep is the 'most underestimated tool' to improve damage caused by addictions, such as smoking and drinking. He explained that during consistent deep sleep, the body performs critical tasks such as repairing tissues, regulating hormones, consolidating memory, and clearing metabolic waste. Stress A 2024 study presented at the United European Gastroenterology congress by a group of Chinese researchers noted that a combination of chronic stress and anxiety has been linked to colorectal cancer in young people. They explained when a body is under frequent stress, a number of healthy bacteria that live in the gut start dying off, making it easier for cancer to move in. When the bacteria die off, tumors grow more quickly, leading to more aggressive, rapidly growing colorectal cancers. Research from Trinity College in Ireland suggested these bacteria support the body's immune system, can protect against virus and bacteria, and prevent damage in gut cells. Apart from this, chronic stress can lead to increased levels of cortisol and other stress hormones in the body that can promote cancer growth and its spread to various parts of the body. A constant state of stress can also weaken the immune system's ability to effectively fight off cancer cells. However, Dr Cuomo believes that there are ways to break free from all addictions and prevent cancer development in the body. He said: 'The real threat is not a single cocktail or slice of cake. It is the craving that drives you back again and again. 'That craving is what wears down your body's defenses. I tell people to test their control. Start with one week of abstention. Not forever. Just seven days. That short reset reveals a lot. 'You learn what your body depends on. During that time, focus on physical recovery. Sleep deeply. Move your body. Eat real food. 'Spend time with people you trust. Addiction thrives in isolation. Recovery begins with reconnection.' Additionally, Dr Cuomo suggested replacing the habit by engaging in some form of movement, such as taking regular walks.
