If you’ve been suffering from heartburn or acid reflux, it’s highly likely that you’ve taken Zantac, which is the most popular brand in the market for the generic drug ranitidine. The medicine, which is distributed and sold by Sanofi, was recalled late last year due to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) findings that it contained low levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which potentially causes cancer among humans.
NDMA is described as an environmental contaminant. This means that it can be found in water and food, such as cheese, vegetables, and grilled meats. While you won’t get terminally ill right away, there’s a probability that you’ll get cancer from Zantac if you have a weak immune system since it makes you vulnerable to carcinogens.
If you suspect or have verified that the drug has caused you to develop cancer, here are some tips to stay healthy:
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Eat the Right Stuff
The food to consume plays a significant role in the nutrients that your body receives. That’s why you must be extra mindful of the stuff you eat. The only diet plan that works for everyone is to eat more vegetables and avoid junk food.
A diet that consists of healthy food can fill your body with the right nutrients to boost your immune system, which fights cancer cells. It’ll also help you manage your weight and give you energy as you recover day by day.
Cancer patients should skip meat as much as possible and stick to chicken, fish, or beans as protein sources. Avoid refined cereal, rice, and bread. Opt for whole-grain, brown, and whole-wheat alternatives.
If you still suffer from heartburn, drinking herbal teas, like chamomile and licorice, can help alleviate its symptoms. Skim, low-fat, or plant-based milk is also an effective source of nutrients for cancer patients with this type of stomach problem.
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Quit Your Vices
Help your body recover from cancer by adopting a healthy lifestyle. It’s not too late to quit smoking or drinking. Do everything in your capacity to stop your vices. Don’t be discouraged if you have a difficult time because everyone goes through withdrawal.
The most important thing is that you try your best to halt your bad habits. For heavy smokers, you can start by using an electronic cigarette and slowly lowering the times you reach for the device throughout the day.
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Strive to Exercise
Continue your healthy lifestyle by exercising. Regular sessions at the gym or your favorite yoga center can help keep cancer from recurring. Staying physically active can lessen the chances that your illness will come back. It also lengthens your survival probabilities.
These are the types of exercises that cancer patients can do:
- Stretching – Flexibility exercises helps you maintain your mobility. If you want to continue using your motor functions, you should work those limbs and joints out to retain your ability to move.
- Aerobic – Cardio exercises are also valuable in burning calories and helping you lose weight. Shorter survival and high risk of recurrence have been linked to being overweight after completing cancer treatment.
- Resistance – A lot of patients lose muscle after treatment, but acquire more fat, which heightens the risk of recurrence and decreases survival times. Weight training can help you build more muscle and boost your health.
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Have a Support System
It’s not enough to be physically healthy. You also have to take care of your mental well-being. It can be easy to distance yourself from people, especially during the bad days when you feel and look worse for wear.
However, don’t push your loved ones away. They’ll be the ones who’ll serve as your support system through this challenging time. Moreover, they’ll also be the people who’ll rejoice with you after you’ve won the battle against cancer.
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Go to the Doctor Regularly
Once you’re done with treatment, you should always be mindful of your doctor’s appointments. Have yourself checked regularly to ensure that you’re on the right track to full recovery. After all, you wouldn’t want to go through the entire ordeal again.
Conclusion
It’s possible to get cancer from Zantac, a drug typically used to treat heartburn and stomach problems, like acid reflux. It’s good, though, that the medicine contains just minimal levels of NDMA, a potential human carcinogen, so the cancer that you develop from the drug is still curable.
Stay healthy even when you have cancer by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This means that you should eat healthily. Incorporate fruit and vegetables into your diet. Moreover, drink herbal teas to alleviate the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux.
You should also quit your bad habits to prevent further damage to your body. Exercising frequently has been known to minimize the risk of cancer recurrence and lengthen your survival period. Lastly, surround yourself with loved ones to serve as your support system for your mental well-being and go to the doctor regularly.
