Stockholm: A new study has found that having a tattoo increases the risk of lymphoma by up to 21 percent.
Lymphoma is a type of blood disease that affects the body’s immune system. With increasing popularity around the world, tattoos contribute to the rise in cases of malignant lymphoma.
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden looked at the link between tattoos and lymphoma.
For the study, they identified people with lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system) and compared them with those without the disease, said the study’s lead author who is affiliated with the university Crystal Nelson.
Study participants completed a lifestyle questionnaire to determine whether they had tattoos.
The lymphatic system is part of the body’s immune system. It maintains fluid balance in the body and protects against infection.
There are two types of cancer that affect the lymphatic system. One is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), which accounts for 90 percent of lymphoma cases, and the other is Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There are 40 types of NHL that differ in their development and prevalence.
Scientists involved in this study said that the purpose of this study is not to prevent people from getting tattoos, but to ensure that they are safe to get tattoos.
According to the Pew Research Center, 32 percent of American adults have at least one tattoo, and 22 percent of individuals have more than one tattoo.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in America and can occur at any age.
