About the Otolaryngology Doctor

Smoking has been proven for decades to have a detrimental and even deadly effect on almost all tissues in the body. Of course, the most affected areas are the soft tissues that come in direct contact with the carcinogenic tobacco smoke.

Because your nose and throat are the gateways for all of the air that enters your body, they are equipped with protective measures to keep both themselves and the rest of your respiratory system in good condition. However, the deadly cocktail of formaldehyde, arsenic, ammonia and other chemicals found in cigarette smoke overpower and disable these functions. This leaves smokers and the victims of their second-hand smoke more at risk for infection.

The inner walls of the respiratory system are lined with tiny hair-like structures called cilia. Cilia work to sweep out any unwanted particles that are inhaled into the body. They also aid in distributing the protective layer of mucous that coats the nose, sinuses and throat. Cilia and mucous work together. While the cilia physically sweep out items, the mucous contains antibodies that can fight and destroy pathogens. But tobacco smoke disrupts this system.

When cigarette smoke is introduced to this system, it disables the cilia. Without them, the mucous that is produced normally builds up and causes congestion, as evidenced by the fact that habitual smokers often cough several times a day. The mucous buildup also causes an accumulation of bacteria, which puts smokers at greater risk for sinus and throat infections.

Mucous and bacteria buildup can cause other otolaryngology problems including a middle ear infection called otitis media. Children who suffer from chronic or repeated infections may have tympanostomy tubes put in their ears by an otolaryngology specialist. Children of smokers are more likely to have repeat ear infections due to the exposure to second-hand smoke.

Some of these may seem like minor inconveniences, but they are not the worst effects of smoking on the ear, nose and throat area. As most people know, the worst effects of smoking will land a person in the oncology - not just the otolaryngology - department.

About 75 to 80 percent of all throat cancer is the result of smoking. Smoking can also, less commonly, cause cancer of the nasal cavity and sinuses. While there are several different kinds of throat and nasal cancer, they generally start the same way.

The carcinogenic chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the DNA in the cells with which it comes into contact. The human body is equipped to repair much of this damage on its own. After years of contact, many people's cells suffer considerable damage and are no longer able to fully repair themselves. When the genetic makeup of the cells is damaged, they become mutated and can sometimes continue to reproduce faster than they should. This malfunction results in a tumor, and for many unfortunate smokers, the tumor is cancerous.

Unless you want a future of respiratory problems and possibly even cancer, the best time to quit smoking is now.

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