- Causes of Acid Reflux - Smoking Facts about Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Symptoms
The causes of acid reflux are numerous.
The smoking facts reveal that worsening of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms is
one of the possible gastric health effects of smoking cigarettes and quitting smoking is almost always
recommended as part of GERD treatment.
What Is Acid Reflux?
The term literally means that stomach contents are coming up into the esophagus. In the normal course of events when everything works
the way it is supposed to, the food that you have chewed and swallowed goes from your mouth
down the esophagus and into the stomach.
There is a muscle that closes the opening between the stomach and the esophagus once food enters into the stomach. It is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
When this mechanism fails to work properly stomach
contents can come back up into the esophagus. Since stomach contents are very acidic it gives a burning sensation and is
referred to as acid reflux.
Understanding GERD Symptoms
GERD stands for GastroEsophageal Reflux
Disease.
The stomach secretes acid in order to provide a good environment for protein digestion.
The stomach also secretes mucus to protect the stomach lining from possible erosion caused by the acidic environment.
Stomach acid is a very strong acid (pH value of about 2) and consists mainly of hydrochloric acid.
The burning sensation occurs in the middle of the chest so it is called "heartburn" although
it has nothing to do with the heart.
What is GERD?
GERD is not occasional heartburn associated with overeating or specific food intolerances.
People with
gastroesophageal reflux disease experience acid reflux of greater quantity, severity, and amount.
Occasional heartburn is a slight discomfort and a nuisance. Almost everyone will experience acid
reflux at some time in their lives.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) however, affects the ability to
live a normal life and can be caused by structural anomalies of the esophagus, chemical imbalances,
and even tumors.
Is Smoking Among the Causes of Acid Reflux?
The two main causes of heartburn have been identified as:
anything that interferes with the ability of the lower esophageal sphincter to remain tightly closed and prevent reflux of stomach contents.
increased pressure within the stomach that forces the sphincter to open.
Chemicals in tobacco smoke have been identified as being among the agents that weaken the LES and so smoking can cause simple acid reflux or worsen GERD symptoms.
Other agents that promote relaxation of the LES are foods that contain caffeine.
Acid reflux could easily be one of the gastric health effects of going for a "coffee and a smoke" because you have combined two factors that weaken the LES.
One of the new smoking facts in a study done in Sweden (2004) showed that in addition to smoking, salt was also implicated as one of the causes of acid reflux
"People who had smoked every day for more than 20 years were 70% more likely to have acid reflux than
non-smokers."
Lifestyle related risk factors in the aetiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux Gut 2004; 53: 1730-5
So the smoking facts are that smoking can be listed among the causes of acid reflux because
it has been shown to relax the LES and make GERD symptoms worse.
Quitting smoking is always recommended as part of GERD treatment and is a simple lifestyle measure that can improve
digestion and reduce episodes of simple heartburn as well as the more severe GERD symptoms.
The purpose of the information provided here is to help you cooperate with your doctor and other
health practitioners. It is not intended to take the place of medical advice and you are encouraged to
discuss health concerns with your physician or a professional health care provider who is
familiar with you and your unique personal health context.
