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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Passive Smoking Cause Ear, Eye And Sinus Irritation?

I have an ear infection and swollen lymph nodes on both sides of my throat. I ve been using ear drops and trying to clean out my lymph nodes. It has gotten better but recently I went to a friends house that smokes but she never smokes when I m there. The residue of the smoke bothers me. After I left there my eyes were dry and irritated and I felt a little bit sick to my stomach. My ears hurt and my lymph nodes gotten bigger. My chest was tighter. My sinuses felt a bit irritated but I didn t sneeze or anything. I didn t know what to do about it. Later when I was trying to go to sleep it got harder to breathe and it would hurt across my chest above my breasts. I would try taking in deep breaths but it still didn t seem like I was getting enough air and I would get light headed and a bit buzzy. When I would take a deep breath in I felt a little pain in my throat and when I would release the air all the way I felt like I might cough but I never did. Then it seemed like a panic trying to get a breath and I would calm myself down and take shallow breaths again. This morning I felt much better but when I was breathing it still had a smoky feel to it. Am I allergic to cigarette residue? I do have similar reactions each time I m in a place where they smoke in there but it seemed worse this time. Does it usually get worse over time or is it because I already have an infection.
Mon, 13 Apr 2020
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General Surgeon 's  Response
Hi,

Noted your history about having increased symptoms of difficulty in breathing at night, chest pain, dryness of eyes and so on after you were exposed to residual smoke in friends house, no active smoking done by your friend in your presence.
This seems to be the case of viral infection that you got after visiting the friends, as it is not known to have effect of residual smoke in someones house wherein there was no direct exposure as your friend was not smoking in front of you.
I would advise you the following in such a situation:
Consult your Doctor as you have severe symptoms for clinical diagnosis and supported by tests of blood and X-ray of the chest.
This will allow you to get a proper prescription for antibiotic, decongestants, anti-inflammatory medicines for symptomatic relief as well as for cure.
Surely you should avoid smoke as this can enhance or instigate your symptoms. Yes, some people are allergic to the cigarette smoke.
Also watch for any other factors thaat instigate or enhance your symptoms so that you can avoid further such factors.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. T. Chandrakant, ENT and General Surgeon
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Can Passive Smoking Cause Ear, Eye And Sinus Irritation?

Hi, Noted your history about having increased symptoms of difficulty in breathing at night, chest pain, dryness of eyes and so on after you were exposed to residual smoke in friends house, no active smoking done by your friend in your presence. This seems to be the case of viral infection that you got after visiting the friends, as it is not known to have effect of residual smoke in someones house wherein there was no direct exposure as your friend was not smoking in front of you. I would advise you the following in such a situation: Consult your Doctor as you have severe symptoms for clinical diagnosis and supported by tests of blood and X-ray of the chest. This will allow you to get a proper prescription for antibiotic, decongestants, anti-inflammatory medicines for symptomatic relief as well as for cure. Surely you should avoid smoke as this can enhance or instigate your symptoms. Yes, some people are allergic to the cigarette smoke. Also watch for any other factors thaat instigate or enhance your symptoms so that you can avoid further such factors. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. T. Chandrakant, ENT and General Surgeon