Bad habits that raise risk of gullet cancer

SMokINg, excessive drinking and eating too much salt are known to be bad for our health.

But doing all three may increase the risk of oesophageal cancer by as much as 30 times, according to researchers at harvard university and the chinese university of hong kong.

They analysed the lifestyle habits of around 2,000 people and found that eating salted meat such as bacon was associated with an increased risk of squamous cell cancer (found in the upper oesophagus).

consuming 50g of salted meat a week was linked to a 16 per cent greater risk; those who drank alcohol or smoked had almost triple the risk.

The researchers said this highlighted the significance of reducing salted meat intake among smokers and drinkers.