Smoking Causes Mouth Cancer - 8 Smoke Signals

Quit Smoking Warnings

To deter people from smoking, cigarette packs carry a warning that smoking is hazardous to health. Obviously that has not achieved the objective as the number of smokers keeps on increasing. There is now a suggestion, surprisingly from smokers, that the warning be also printed on each cigarette. Perhaps, it is now time to consider printing actual pictures of victims of lung, heart and other diseases linked directly to or associated with smoking. The faces of the victims can be blanked out to protect privacy. Another option would be to print pictures of diseased organs due to smoking. Grotesque? Yes, but the message may be conveyed more effectively.

Signs Of Mouth Cancer

It is well known that smoking causes lung cancer. Now there is growing evidence that it also causes mouth or oral cancer. In the United States alone, 30,000 new cases of mouth cancer are reported each year. Many, unfortunately, will die from it. Mouth cancer includes cancer of the lips, mouth, tongue, gums and salivary glands. Though it is easy to detect as it can be seen and felt, it is usually passed off as some other less harmful condition. It is easy to understand why as we look at some of the signs of mouth cancer:

1. A persistent sore throat and stubborn lumps in the mouth.
2. Dark, white or red patches that are out of the ordinary.
3. Constant pain, bleeding and numbness in the mouth.
4. Swelling or thickening of the cheeks due to tissue growth.
5. Difficulty in swallowing, chewing or moving the tongue.
6. Problems with jaw movement due swelling and pain.
7. Pain in and around the teeth and loosening of teeth.
8. A lump in the neck and bad breath.

Have It Checked

If you are a smoker, it is particularly critical that you seek further medical evaluation of some of the signs listed above. For non-smokers, be aware that these signs could be serious especially when they are persistent and do not go away easily. Follow-up with a visit to your doctor. Even with or without these signs, smokers must be persuaded to quit smoking as they are putting their lives at greater and fatal health risks. Many have quit smoking by putting themselves on a currently popular stop smoking pill that has little or nil side effects. Are you wise enough to try it and get a new breath of life? It is easy to reach out and light-up another cigarette. However, only people who appreciate life and have something or someone worth living for would want to stop doing so. Is your life worth the effort? Are you strong enough to want to quit smoking?

Azhar Victor

Do you want to quit smoking? Do you want to save yourself from further devastating damage to your health? Do you want to do it for the sake of your loved ones? You can do it without the usual adverse side effects and severe withdrawal or "cold turkey" symptoms. Choose to live life healthy - Quit Smoking.