Upper airway complications of smoking.
Tobacco smoke has a myriad of acute and chronic effects on the upper airway. These problems can range from aggravating inflammatory reactions to life threatening malignancies. Cessation of smoking is the key to successful resolution of many upper airway complaints. An increased awareness of these disease processes can improve early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. A better awareness of these processes may facilitate physicians in counseling patients about smoking.
Fitzpatrick
T M
TM
Department of Surgery, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Blair
E A
EA
D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*