The Increased Risks of Smoking For Those Suffering From Tonsillitis

By Patricia | October 16, 2009

What Is Tonsillitis

The tonsils are an important part of the body’s system for fighting infection and are concerned mainly with the destruction of germs that enter the system through the mouth before other parts of the body become infected. However, there are times when the tonsils get affected by viruses and bacteria that get into it, causing tonsillitis. A person who suffers from tonsillitis will usually experience a lot of pain, and drinking and swallowing food can become quite difficult. Sometimes, there is also the development of fever in which the appearance of the tonsils is redder than normal, and they get coated with a yellowish or white substance. Other major characteristics of this condition are the tone of voice being changed, bad breath, and glands that are swollen in the neck. This condition is also considered to be very contagious and is easily transmitted between people through social contact like in droplets in the air from sneezing. A common cause of tonsillitis is viral infections

Streptococcus pyogenes, which is an organism that brings about strep throat, can cause bacterial tonsillitis. If no treatment is given, the strep throat can result in a condition that is more serious called rheumatic fever in which the heart can get affected many years later. Strep throat causes only 10 percent of tonsillitis in adults and 30 percent in children. To prevent conditions like strep throat and sore throat, smoking, crowded and damp conditions, and polluted air should be avoided. Some of the symptoms of tonsillitis are sore throat, difficulty of feeding in babies, pain with swallowing, fever, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea, cough, hoarseness, and a runny nose. Tonsillitis symptoms also include redness of the throat and tonsils, swollen lymph glands, white patches on the tonsils, redness of the eyes, rashes, and ear pain.

How long does it last?

Usually, tonsillitis will get resolved in a few days by itself without the necessity for special tonsillitis treatment. However, you could considerable reduce the period of recovery for tonsillitis with some home treatment methods. One of the tonsillitis home remedies that is considered to be effective is drinking a glass of boiled and pure milk, which is mixed with some pepper powder and a pinch of turmeric powder. You should drink this mixture for three nights to ensure best results. Fresh fruits juices, particularly those of cucumber, beet and carrot, either taken in a combination or individually are known to be very effective. Drinking a mixture of 100 ml of cucumber juice, 100 ml of beet juice, and 300 ml of carrot juice is highly recommended. If your tonsillitis is severe, you could try making a gargling solution by adding two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds to 500 ml of water and boiling it. You should then let the liquid cool down before gargling with it. For chronic tonsillitis, surgery may be required in which there is the removal of the tonsils in a process called tonsillectomy. Some of the signs that may indicate the necessity for a tonsillectomy are severe dysphagia, when the tonsils become enlarged so that it causes an obstruction to the upper airway, cardiopulmonary complications, or sleep disorders. Tonsillectomy is usually done in children, but it is also done in adults and teenagers. The tonsils that are enlarged are taken out more often in children and adults to bring about relief from snoring, obstruction in the upper airway, and sleep apnea. After you have undergone a tonsillectomy, smoking and other tobacco products should be avoided for at least two weeks as it can make the effects of the tonsillectomy worse. For tonsillitis, avoiding drinking alcohol and smoking are preventive measures. You should also avoid spicy snacks and foods for five to seven days after the tonsillectomy. Soft and cool energetic drinks are considered to enhance the healing process.

The smoke of cigarettes contains high quantities of chemicals that cause an irritation to most of the tissues in the body. Smoking with tonsillitis will hinder the process of elimination of foreign substances that is the main cause of tonsillitis. If you have tonsillitis, it will help to quit smoking and stay away from second hand smokes as it promotes inflammation of the tonsils. Smoking while having tonsillitis and drinking are habits you should avoid to prevent the condition from getting worse and to help the healing process.  An important fact to know is that tonsillitis is contagious and smoking by sharing cigarettes must definitely be avoided.

Mononucleosis is an infection that is caused by the virus Epstein-Barr that spreads to the throat, spleen, liver, respiratory system, and lymphatic system, and commonly causes a viral sore throat. The appearance of the symptoms after exposure is from 30 to 50 days. Mononucleosis, which is also known as the kissing disease, is very common. The symptoms are often mild, particularly in children, and the diagnosis is usually given as a cold. In adults and adolescents, the severity of the symptoms is more, and mononucleosis is given as the diagnosis in this age group. One of the major mononucleosis symptoms is a severe sore throat. If you have mononucleosis, also called mono, smoking, alcohol and caffeine should be avoided.

Tonsils stones are yellow/white, foul smelling, irregularly shaped globs of bacteria and mucous that become caught at the back of the throat. Although no physical harm is done by these tonsil stones, they can be very annoying and produce bad breath. When you have conditions like tonsillitis and tonsil stones, smoking will have a negative effect even though there is no direct tonsillitis-smoking link. Therefore, by avoiding smoking with tonsillitis, the effects of tonsillitis can be reduced and the healing process can be allowed to progress unhindered. A remedy that is considered to be very effective is lime juice. Into a glass of warm water, you should add the juice of a fresh lime. Also add four tablespoons of honey and quarter teaspoon of salt and sip the mixture slowly. However, by simply avoiding smoking and maintaining proper oral hygiene, you should be able to prevent tonsillitis from occurring and escape the pain and discomfort that can make life miserable.

The tonsils are a very prominent part of the body’s infection fighting system and are primarily concerned with destroying any germs that come into our system through our mouth before they cause any infection in any other parts of the body. However, at times, the bacteria and viruses may get into the tonsils and affect them – giving rise to tonsillitis. When a person suffers from tonsillitis, they will experience a significant amount of pain, while swallowing food or drink may also seem much harder. Some individuals may also develop a fever, while the tonsils themselves will also appear to be redder than normal and appear to be coated with a white or yellowish substance. A change in the tone of the voice, swollen glands in the neck and bad breath are also very prominent characteristics of the condition. Tonsillitis is known to be contagious and is transmitted very commonly from person to person via social contact such as droplets in the air as a result of sneezing. Viral infections are also some of the most common causes of the condition.

Smoking During Tonsillitis

Cigarette smoke contains a large amount of chemicals that happens to irritate most tissues inside the body. As a result, smoking while being affected by tonsillitis will interfere with the effective elimination of the foreign substances that are the primary causes of the condition, thereby considerably slowing down the healing process of the body.

Treatment

Tonsillitis will usually resolve itself in a few days without any extra special treatment. However, one can reduce the recovery period considerably by trying out a few home remedies that have a reputation of being rather effective. For example, you could try drinking a glass of pure boiled milk that has been mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder and pepper powder. Drink this concoction for a period of three nights for best results. Fresh fruit juices, especially those of carrot, beet and cucumber, taken either individually or in a combination have been known to be particularly effective. Drinking a concoction of 300 ml of carrot juice, 100 ml of beet juice and a 100 ml of cucumber juice is highly recommended. If affected by a severe case of tonsillitis, one should try creating a gargling solution by mixing two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in half a liter of water and allowing it to boil. After this, allow the liquid to cool down before using it to gargle your throat.

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