Which lifestyle factor puts Mr. Patterson at the greatest risk for developing mucositis?

• A. Tobacco use
• B. Advanced age
• C. Dehydration
• D. Spicy foods

Answer: (A)

Lifestyle factors can influence how badly the mucosa is affected by chemotherapy. Mucositis happens when chemotherapy damages rapidly dividing cells in the oral lining, and the body’s ability to repair that damage determines how severe it becomes. Smoking stands out because it directly harms the mucosa and its healing capacity. Nicotine and other tobacco components cause vasoconstriction, reducing blood flow to the oral tissues, which limits nutrients and immune factors needed for repair. The irritants in tobacco also promote local inflammation and tissue injury, dry the mouth, and can increase bacterial load—all of which magnify mucosal damage once chemotherapy starts.

While advanced age, dehydration, and spicy foods can influence comfort or healing to some extent, they do not raise the risk of developing mucositis as much as tobacco use does.