Is Smoking Cigarette A Problem For A Jaundice Patient?

Posted on Mon, 28 Sep 2015

Question: is smoking cigarette a problem for a jaundice patient?
i mean will it do any more harm than it normally does?

Answered by Dr. Mohammed Taher Ali (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, it can be a problem for a jaundiced patient.

Detailed Answer:
Hi & Welcome.

Sorry to know that you have jaundice.
I appreciate your concern regarding the safety of cigarette smoking while suffering from jaundice.

Yes it can be more harmful than it normally does.

I have gone through the uploaded results of liver function tests which clear show the raised liver enzymes (SGOT & SGPT) and bilirubin levels highly suggestive of inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).

Since the liver is already inflammed and cannot carry out some of the important functions, smoking can further aggravate the inflammatory process which may result in more liver damage.

Hence, had you been my patient I would have advised you:

1. Avoiding smoking till you are cured
2. An ultrasound scan of the abdomen
3. Bood tests for Haemoglobin, Anti HAV, anti HCV, anti HEV and HBsAg (to find out the cause of the inflammation like viruses)

Hope I could answer answer your query.
However, I shall be glad to answer if you have any follow-up query.

Best regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T