World News for Students of English

02-04-2024 15:00

Doctors in Belgium are witnessing a rise in patients with severe nose issues due to increased cocaine usage.

These patients are typically in their forties and with privileged socio-economic backgrounds, and they often suffer from nasal obstructions and damage to the mucous membrane and cartilage. Cocaine narrows blood vessels in the nose which leads to tissue damage and perforations. When the perforation is wider, it leads to a collapse of the nasal pyramid, which is visible from the outside. Reconstruction of the nose may be necessary for severe cases.

Despite a surge in cocaine use in Belgium over the past five years, the number of operations remains limited. The reason is that many patients struggle to undergo surgery due to the need to abstain from cocaine for at least six months for proper healing.

Difficult words: mucous membrane (the thin soft tissue that covers the inside of the nose, mouth, and so on), cartilage (the strong tissue in the joints and other places such as the nose, throat, and ears), abstain (to choose not to do or have something).

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