Tooth and ENT Doctor

To wrap up the ‘quit smoking’ series, it is best to remember the following: 1. Don't be discouraged if you slip up and smoke one or two cigarettes. It's not a lost cause. One cigarette is better than an entire pack. But that doesn't mean you can safely smoke every now and then, no matter how long ago you quit. One cigarette may seem harmless, but it can quickly lead back to one or two packs a day. Many ex-smokers had to try stopping many times before they finally succeeded. When people slip up, it's usually within the first three months after quitting. Here's what you can do if this happens: Understand that you've had a slip. You've had a small setback. This doesn't make you a smoker again. Don't be too hard on yourself. One slip up doesn't make you a failure. It doesn't mean you can't quit for good. Don't be too easy on yourself either. If you slip up, don't say, "Well, I've blown it. I might as w...

Removing nicotine from the body will cause some uncomfortable changes. So, if you plan to quit smoking, expect feelings of withdrawal. It is your body's way of telling you it's learning to be smoke-free. Common feelings of smoking withdrawal include: * Feeling depressed * Not being able to sleep * Getting cranky, frustrated, or mad * Feeling anxious, nervous, or restless * Having trouble thinking clearly * Feeling hungry or gaining weight Not everyone will experience these. Some however may have one or many of these problems. And they may last differently. Rest assured though that these discomforts will go away in time. Getting rid of things that remind you of smoking will also help you get ready to quit. Try these ideas: * Make things clean and fresh at work, in your car, and at home. Clean your drapes and clothes. Shampoo your car. Buy yourself flowers. You will enjoy their scent as your sense of smell returns. * Throw away all your cigarettes and matches. ...

As follow-up to the previous post, I am starting a series on quitting the habit of smoking. As I have said, this might be hard to do to a lot of people, but with the right mindset and faith, it's highly not impossible! It will not only be good for you, but to us, non-smokers, as well. Just the thought of getting rid of something you've been used to doing may make you anxious. So the best way to start is conditioning your mind and body first. Quitting works best when you're prepared. Before you quit, START by taking these five important steps: S = Set a quit date. T = Tell family, friends, and co-workers that you plan to quit. A = Anticipate and plan for the challenges you'll face while quitting. R = Remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from your home, car, and work. T = Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit. Kicking that tobacco habit is easier with the support of others. Tell your family, friends, and co-workers that you plan to...

A 74 year-old woman was brought to me for consult because of a mass in the left lower posterior gums. A previous doctor already did a biopsy and it turned out to be a well-differentiated squamous cell cancer. She was advised surgery, hence the consult with me. Upon seeing the lesion, I could only think of one probable risk factor, which was later confirmed by the woman, smoking! She was, and still is, a cigarette smoker. Indeed, tobacco never fails to put one life in jeopardy. Its sins are recurrent and unstoppable. Aside from the other body cancers that it brings, it is one of t he most important oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer risk factors. Approximately 90% of people with mouth cancer are tobacco users. Smokers are 6 times more likely than nonsmokers to develop mouth cancer. Users of smokeless tobacco have a 50 times more likely chance of developing mouth cancer. Statistics show only 6% of head and neck cancer recurrence in patients who stop smoking in contr...

Last year, my sister's friend succumbed to lung cancer. She survived 3 years of torment by this vicious illness. It spread to her bones, which is the most painful reported type of carcinoma. It is unfortunate that she had to suffer this ordeal when she has not smoked a single cigarette in her life! An officemate had a recurring cough that I initially treated as a case of allergy. He responded to the medications I gave so I thought it was just that. I didn’t know that few weeks ago, the cough became persistent, and it was accompanied by shortness of breath with exertion. He managed to have a chest x-ray taken and to the surprise of everyone, he has two nodular masses on his right middle lung lobe, with lytic changes on the adjacent ribs. He is scheduled for CT scan and bronchoscopy with biopsy for further evaluation. Impression at this time is Infectious process versus carcinoma. He is also a non-smoker but claims to be constantly in the company of smokers! Research...