We already know that smoking can cause a wide range of health problems. This bad habit is already linked to heart disease, but does it also cause heartburn? There could be a link between smoking and problems with your digestive system, so if heartburn is a common issue for you a smoking cessation plan might be needed. Fortunately, the doctors here at Matthews Internal Medicine can help you quit and reap the health benefits, including potentially lower incidences of heartburn.
Nicotine Weakens the LES
One of the big problems with smoking is that it can weaken the LES, or lower esophageal sphincter, muscle. This muscle plays a critical role in stopping heartburn. Normally the LES opens to let food down into your stomach and closes to prevent acid from coming back up. If the LES weakens or relaxes it can allow stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus. This causes acid reflux and heartburn. The nicotine found in your cigarettes is the primary culprit, weakening the LES and allowing more acid to flow up.
While it’s not a major health risk, like some of the side effects of smoking, it can be quite unpleasant. The weakening of the LES and the rise of acid can also cause other issues, like damage to the cells lining the esophagus. This can lead to even more health problems, including serious conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, and even esophageal cancer.
Smoking Affects Saliva Production
Another side effect of smoking is that it reduces saliva production. You may not think that this is a big deal. Just hydrate more, right? The problem isn’t just dry mouth though. Saliva actually helps move acid down the esophagus and into the stomach. Saliva can even serve as a weak acid neutralizer, and despite its mild nature it actually makes a big difference. With less saliva you wind up with more potent stomach acid that’s more likely to travel up your esophagus. Obviously, this isn’t a good thing if your goal is to avoid acid reflux and heartburn.
A Smoking Habit Can Affect Your Digestion
Smoking also affects how your body digests food. Smoking can actually slow down digestion, which means that your LES and esophagus could end up being exposed to stomach acid for a longer period of time. With longer digestion times your chance of experiencing heartburn symptoms could end up rising.
Smoking Can Have an Effect on Your Stomach Acid
Nicotine can actually increase acid production in your stomach. Smoking can also cause bile salts to move from the intestine to your stomach, which makes the acid even more potent. So now you have more acid that’s even more acidic, so patients who already suffer from heartburn can have their symptoms exacerbated by a smoking habit.
Your Smoking Cessation Experts in Matthews, NC
So if you’re trying to quit smoking and you haven’t had any luck so far, Matthews Internal Medicine can help. Contact us at (704) 750-2329 and see how one of our smoking cessation programs could help you. If you’re struggling with heartburn or any of the other health problems caused by smoking, you shouldn’t delay.