SMOKING AND IT'S HARMFUL EFFECTS

Smoking can affect  the body thereby our health in various ways. It depends on the duration, number of cigarettes  and associated comorbidities which smoking can contribute or  worsen.

Every year March second Wednesday  is considered as NO SMOKING DAY. Smoking can lead on  Cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases or can aggravate existing lung conditions and can  cause Cancer.

SMOKING  AND IT'S  MANIFESTATIONS IN ENT 

Tobacco contains certain substances which are carcinogens like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines. Use of  unfiltered cigarette, pipe will increase the carcinogenic effect ,:along with alcohol intake synergistic effect occurs as alcohol increases absorption of carcinogens contained in the tobacco. Duration of smoking, amount of cigarettes daily increase the carcinogenic effect.

Head and neck cancers like oral cavity and oropharynx  , Larynx, hypopharynx  majority of the patients give history of smoking and alcohol intake.

Chewing tobacco or smokeless tobacco  lead on to cancers of  oral cavity and oropharynx. Paan mixed with  lime ,where lime lowers the pH thereby increasing the release of alkaloids from tobacco and  arecanut  making more prone to cancer . It can lead on to fibrosis, oral submucous fibrosis where patient will have difficulty in opening the mouth due to  fibrous bands.

Smoking can worsen laryngitis,cause polypoid chan ges in the larynx. Bronchitis and exacerbation of asthma have been observed.

Ear infections and hearing loss

Smoking is a risk factor for ear Infections like middle ear Infections especially in children due to parental smoking. Age related hearing loss and noise induced hearing loss aggravated by smoking. its also related to tinnitus ( sound in the ear ). Smoking  causes Ventilating or Eustachian tube dysfunction and causes  increased mucus build up in the middle ear.

Nose and paranasal sinuses

Smoking  affects the inner lining of nose and PNS, decrease the number of cilia , change the viscosity thereby alter the mucociliary  pathway,  causing mucus build up. It can lead on to Rhinitis due to the irritating effect, worsening  of occupational rhinitis or prolongation of rhinosinusitis. Tobacco smoke will irritate the nerves related to smell resulting in decrease in smell sensation, which will reverse once smoking is stopped.

Certain lesions like polyp,  inverted papilloma  has history of active or passive smoking.

To summarise smoking leads to various diseases, interfere with the quality of life. Stopping smoking will improve mucociliary function. Active and passive smoking  is a health hazard, parents should be careful if they have small kids and avoid smoking in front of them or try to quit the habit.