Head and neck cancer ranks the sixth most common cancer worldwide, thus making head and neck cancer a major health problem. This cross sectional study of fifty patients, presenting with features of upper aerodigestive tract malignancies attending the department of ENT, Government Medical College, Thrissur during a period of one year from June 2010 were studied to assess the prevalence of risk factors. Usage of tobacco and alcohol, the two risk factors that act synergistically was found to be very high in our study group. Pan chewing which is also common was associated with oral cavity malignancies. 70–90 % of patients with head and neck malignancies were found to be smokers, alcoholic and pan chewers. An initiative on the part of an individual to stop smoking and alcohol intake and on the part of government to educate the public on the ill effects of smoking and alcohol intake will go a long way to reduce the incidence of malignancies