Smokers Apparently More Vulnerable to GERD (Chronic Gastric Acid), How come?
Thursday, January 10, 2019
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Smoking has many adverse effects on health. One of the most common effects is lung disease. But apparently, smoking does not only affect the respiratory system. Cigarettes can trigger diseases related to the digestive system, namely GERD or better known as stomach acid. So, what is the relationship between cigarettes and stomach acid? Here's the review.
What is GERD disease?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is a condition when stomach acid rises into the esophagus, the part that connects the mouth and stomach to cause burning in the chest and a series of other symptoms. GERD is used to express gastric acid that is severe or chronic. Because being in the chronic category this disease can appear one to two times per week.
When you swallow food, usually the muscles below the esophagus that separate the esophagus with the stomach will relax so that food and fluids will flow into the stomach before finally closing again. However, when the muscles in this part are weakened so that they cannot control when to close and open, stomach acid in the stomach can flow back into the esophagus. If this happens too often, this condition will irritate your esophagus to make it inflamed. This condition then triggers GERD.
Why are smokers more susceptible to GERD?
Quoted from Everyday Health, cigarettes and stomach acid are very related. Cigarettes can trigger GERD or chronic stomach acid due to several factors, namely:
Weakened lower esophageal spinchter
Cigarettes contain nicotine which can relax smooth muscle in the body. The lower esophageal spincher is the muscle in the lower part of the esophagus which separates the esophagus from the stomach which belongs to the smooth muscle. The spincher is in charge of regulating the way the food goes to the stomach and prevents acids from entering the esophagus. Unfortunately, nicotine causes the spichter to relax so that stomach acid rises to the esophagus and eventually causes GERD.
Reducing saliva
Smokers have less saliva compared to normal people. This is triggered by various contents in cigarettes that make the mouth drier. In fact, saliva is an acid neutralizing agent called bicarbonate which is useful to help fight the effects of gastric acid reflux and also GERD.
So actually when you swallow saliva, saliva helps neutralize the acid in the esophagus that occurs due to reflux. Conversely, if the production of saliva is less then the acid that rises into the esophagus cannot be neutralized until it finally makes you more susceptible to GERD.
Increases acid production in the stomach
Did you know that smoking encourages the stomach to produce more stomach acid. Indirectly stomach acid which has the chance to rise into the esophagus becomes even more. As a result, your chances of getting GERD are even greater.
Disrupts the muscles and lining of the esophagus
Besides being able to relax the esophageal muscles that should contract to close, cigarettes also have the same bad effect on these muscles. Cigarettes interfere with the work of the muscles that help move food into the esophagus. Though this muscle works by helping to clear the esophagus from damaging acids. Not only is the muscle damaged but the mucous membrane that protects the esophagus from acid damage is also affected by its negative effects.
Because cigarettes and stomach acid are very related, you should start reducing the intensity and number of cigarettes you consume every day to avoid various health problems including GERD.
What is GERD disease?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is a condition when stomach acid rises into the esophagus, the part that connects the mouth and stomach to cause burning in the chest and a series of other symptoms. GERD is used to express gastric acid that is severe or chronic. Because being in the chronic category this disease can appear one to two times per week.
When you swallow food, usually the muscles below the esophagus that separate the esophagus with the stomach will relax so that food and fluids will flow into the stomach before finally closing again. However, when the muscles in this part are weakened so that they cannot control when to close and open, stomach acid in the stomach can flow back into the esophagus. If this happens too often, this condition will irritate your esophagus to make it inflamed. This condition then triggers GERD.
Why are smokers more susceptible to GERD?
Quoted from Everyday Health, cigarettes and stomach acid are very related. Cigarettes can trigger GERD or chronic stomach acid due to several factors, namely:
Weakened lower esophageal spinchter
Cigarettes contain nicotine which can relax smooth muscle in the body. The lower esophageal spincher is the muscle in the lower part of the esophagus which separates the esophagus from the stomach which belongs to the smooth muscle. The spincher is in charge of regulating the way the food goes to the stomach and prevents acids from entering the esophagus. Unfortunately, nicotine causes the spichter to relax so that stomach acid rises to the esophagus and eventually causes GERD.
Reducing saliva
Smokers have less saliva compared to normal people. This is triggered by various contents in cigarettes that make the mouth drier. In fact, saliva is an acid neutralizing agent called bicarbonate which is useful to help fight the effects of gastric acid reflux and also GERD.
So actually when you swallow saliva, saliva helps neutralize the acid in the esophagus that occurs due to reflux. Conversely, if the production of saliva is less then the acid that rises into the esophagus cannot be neutralized until it finally makes you more susceptible to GERD.
Increases acid production in the stomach
Did you know that smoking encourages the stomach to produce more stomach acid. Indirectly stomach acid which has the chance to rise into the esophagus becomes even more. As a result, your chances of getting GERD are even greater.
Disrupts the muscles and lining of the esophagus
Besides being able to relax the esophageal muscles that should contract to close, cigarettes also have the same bad effect on these muscles. Cigarettes interfere with the work of the muscles that help move food into the esophagus. Though this muscle works by helping to clear the esophagus from damaging acids. Not only is the muscle damaged but the mucous membrane that protects the esophagus from acid damage is also affected by its negative effects.
Because cigarettes and stomach acid are very related, you should start reducing the intensity and number of cigarettes you consume every day to avoid various health problems including GERD.
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