Australian Man Develops Hair Growth Inside Throat Due to Heavy Smoking; Here’s What Happened

An Australian man has developed a rare condition where curly black hair started growing at the back of his throat, likely due to heavy smoking. This unusual case was reported in the American Journal of Case Reports, involving a 52-year-old man who had been smoking for 30 years.

The World Health Organization states that tobacco use causes around 8 million deaths each year. Smoking can lead to numerous health issues, and this case highlights one of its bizarre effects. The man first sought medical help at 35 when he experienced respiratory problems, chronic coughing, and snoring. He even coughed up a 5cm long hair.

Doctors initially removed the hair and prescribed medication to treat the bacterial growth on it. However, this treatment had to be repeated every year as the hair kept growing back.

The root of the problem dates back to a surgery the man had at age 10 after a near-drowning incident. During the surgery, an air tube was placed in his trachea, and skin and cartilage from his ear were used to repair the tracheal defect. This led to the unusual hair growth inside his throat.

The issue was finally resolved when the man quit smoking and underwent an endoscopic argon plasma coagulation procedure. A year later, only two hairs were found, and after another treatment, no more hair growth was observed.

The American Lung Association notes that cigarettes contain about 600 ingredients, many of which are also found in cigars and hookahs. When burned, they produce over 7,000 chemicals, most of which are toxic and at least 69 are known to cause cancer. While the harmful effects of smoking may not be immediate, they can last for years. However, quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of many health problems.