Have you used tobacco in any form, now or in the past?
Taking Care of Yourself
If you have used tobacco in any form, now or in the past, tell your health care provider so he or she can be sure that you have right preventive health care.
It is well known that smoking puts you at risk for certain health-related illnesses. This means part of your health care should focus on related screening and preventive measures to help you stay as healthy as possible.
For example, you will want to regularly check the inside of your mouth for any changes and have an oral exam by your doctor or dentist if you do find any changes or problems.
The American Cancer Society recommends that periodic check-ups should include oral cavity (mouth) exams. By doing this tobacco users may be able to find oral changes and leukoplakia (white patches on the mouth membranes) early. This may help prevent oral cancer.
You should also be aware of any of the following:
- any change in a cough (for example, you cough up more phlegm than usual)
- a new cough
- coughing up blood
- hoarseness
- trouble breathing
- wheezing
- headaches
- chest pain
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- general fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
- repeated respiratory infections
Any of these could be signs of lung cancer or a number of other lung conditions and you should report any symptom to your doctor. Although these can be signs of a problem, many lung cancers do not cause any noticeable symptoms until they are advanced and have spread to other parts of the body.
If you have any health concerns that you think may be related to your cigarette smoking, please see your health care provider as quickly as possible.
Taking care of yourself and getting treatment for small problems will give you the best chance for successful treatment. The best way, though, to take care of yourself and decrease your risk for life-threatening lung problems is to quit smoking.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Guide_for_Quitting_Smoking.asp
Posted in practical health care