| This is not another anti-smoking article trying to | | | | Nicotine weakens this muscle so it becomes less |
| convince you about the perils of smoking. If you | | | | effective in preventing this backflow so acid reflux |
| don't know them now, which planet do you live on? | | | | and the pain it causes occurs much more frequently. |
| No, here we will consider why smoking is a major | | | | (c) Irritation of the Esophagus lining |
| factor in triggering heartburn attacks and how | | | | While the pain of the inflammation caused by the |
| quitting smoking is one of the most positive steps | | | | stomach acid is bad enough, tobacco smoke is also |
| you can take to get natural heartburn relief, | | | | known to irritate the esophagus lining, adding to the |
| particularly for those who suffer from chronic | | | | distress. |
| heartburn. | | | | (d) Reduction in saliva production |
| If you only suffer from occasional bouts of heartburn | | | | Smoking reduces the amount of saliva that is |
| then maybe the benefits of quitting your habit is not | | | | produced (one cause of bad breath) but saliva is |
| such an inducement. However, if you suffer from | | | | important for two important reasons (i) swallowing |
| chronic heartburn you know that anything you can | | | | saliva, a natural process, helps to push the acidic |
| do to relieve the pain and distress will certainly be | | | | stomach contents back to where they belong - in |
| worth considering, even giving up the evil weed. | | | | your stomach (ii) saliva contains bicarbonate which |
| So why should you consider quitting smoking? Well | | | | acts to neutralise and lower acid levels. So, if the |
| experts believe that there are four ways in which | | | | amount of saliva produced is reduced there is a |
| smoking, or more specifically, nicotine, can cause or | | | | greater chance that acid reflux will get worse. |
| worsen the symptoms of heartburn. | | | | If this is not enough to convince you to consider |
| (a) Increase in production of stomach acid | | | | quitting your habit then lets be quite clear, |
| Heartburn occurs when the acidic stomach contents | | | | complications such as chronic inflammation of the |
| flow back into the esophagus (gullet). This is known | | | | esophagus and in extreme cases, esophageal cancer |
| as acid reflux. Nicotine is known to cause an increase | | | | are much more likely to occur in people who smoke |
| in the production of stomach acid, so the chances of | | | | than those who don't. |
| acid reflux occurring are much greater. | | | | So there you have it. Bite the bullet and quit smoking. |
| (b) Weakening the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) | | | | It is one of the most effective ways to get natural |
| The stomach and the esophagus which transports | | | | heartburn relief. It may not cure you but isn't any |
| food to it, are separated by a ring of muscle, the | | | | means of gaining control and reducing the distress of |
| LES, which acts as a valve preventing the acidic | | | | your condition worth the effort? |
| stomach contents flowing back into the esophagus. | | | | |