Describe the causes and treatment for xerostomia


Xerostomia, or reduced saliva production, is a common side effect of head and neck radiation and chemotherapy (methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, paclitaxel, carboplatin, cisplatin). Other causes of xerostomia include dehydration, chronic graft-versus-host disease of the GI tract, and certain medications (narcotic analgesics). The severity of xerostomia is correlated with the severity of oral discomfort, dysgeusia, dysphagia, and dysphonia. Drugs used to treat cancer can also thicken the saliva, causing the mouth to feel dry. Treatment of xerostomia may include use of artificial saliva (saliva substitutes) and/or mouth moisturizers.

Nutritional Science

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Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

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A) shear stress B) metabolic stress C) inflammatory stress D) thrombotic stress

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Heart disease primarily affects _____

a. adolescents b. individuals between the ages of 20 and 30 c. individuals between the ages of 40 and 50 d. individuals over the age of 55 e. individuals over the age of 75

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Severe cases of acute pancreatitis could lead to what complication?

A) liver disease B) systemic inflammatory response syndrome C) intestinal obstruction D) colon cancer

Nutritional Science