Developing a nose for cancer
Dr Lim Ing Ruen
Smoking is really a trigger that can ruin your nose and surrounding sinus tissues. Surprised! Well if you’re are smoker or there is someone from your family who smokes, it is better to come out of this habit if you really don’t want this to happen to you or your loved ones.
First, you may want to know what sinuses really are. Well, the sinuses are air filled bony structures on the inner walls of your nose. There are about four pairs of sinuses, with frontal pair located on the forehead, the sphenoid at epicenter of the skull, ethmoids in between eyes and the maxillary sinuses just below the cheeks. The sinuses respond with nose through a small outlet known as ostium. The sinuses are lined in a pseudo stratified pillared epithelium which consists of mucus secreted cup-shaped cells and ciliated cells. These sinuses are responsible for enhancing vocal resonance, lightening skulls and condition inhaled air. The major function is production of mucus, which has antimicrobial properties. According to American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, almost 31 million of the population is affected by sinus infections every year. Tobacco smoke is alleged to release as much as 4000 toxins most of which are carcinogenic. The active smokers inhale and exhale the mainstream smoke. The side stream smoke wafts from cigarette ends, pipes and cigars.
The second hand smoke is amalgamation of side stream and mainstream smoke that non smokers are exposed to. Cigarette smoking has adverse effects on cilia function, resulting in stagnant mucus that gets collected in sinuses. As a result, the sinus ostia get blocked by dried mucus, restricting proper drainage of mucus. Cigarette smoking causes several airborne allergies, like nasal blockage, aggravated Asthma and running nose. Passive smokers may also be victims of Asthma and allergies. Exposure to cigarette smoke above critical levels may cause metaplasia in the upper lining of nose, which is just a start of carcinogenesis. Rhino sinusitis is an infection that affects sinuses and nose and usually begins as viral infection that normally takes three to four days to recover. Although chain smokers and second hand smokers are unable to recover and they might also be affected with bacterial sinusitis. In cases where viral flu takes more than five days to recover, it is best to consult a physician and take antibiotics. Saline douches may also help in cleansing the blocked mucus and moisten the nose lining. You may also opt for allergy tests to determine the root cause of such allergies, which may be due to dust, or from pollen and pests. Cancer of nose is threatening and its early symptoms are blood discharge and nasal blockages. Nasoendoscopy is suggested for people with chronic symptoms. This simple procedure helps in having proper treatments.
If you have developed nasal allergies, it is better to safeguard against ecological exposure to allergens and using steroid sprays and prior to surgery or radio therapy it is better to have a CT scan done.
Dr Lim Ing Ruen is a Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon at the Singapore Medical Specialists centre. For more information , please visit www. Sgsmc.com
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i have been suffering from Asthma ever since i was little kid. i can only manage it by taking medicines and some food supplements. `