- The Human Digestive System - Smoking Facts About H Pylori Bacteria and Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD) Disease
The human digestive system has many parts. Digestive wellness is only maintained if the organs
of the digestive system function well and harmoniously.
The effects of smoking cigarettes causes many digestive system diseases
or makes existing ones worse. Treatment of H pylori bacteria in smokers is less likely to be successful
leaving smokers more vulnerable to develop gastric (stomach) cancer.
Additionally gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)disease is made worse by the effects of smoking cigarettes.
Smoking Facts About the Digestive Process
If you smoke your stomach won't be happy, in fact you might even have an upset stomach!
Your stomach is part of the digestive tract but the digestive process starts in the mouth. Saliva mixes with food when you chew and starts the process
of digestion. The smoking facts reveal that smoking reduces the amount of saliva
produced so the digestive health effects of smoking cigarettes actually start in the mouth.
Since saliva contains chemicals to counteract the acidity in the stomach, not having enough saliva
mixed with your food can change the stomach environment and the
chemical nature of the gastric juices that are needed to digest food and release nutrients for absorption.
Other effects of smoking on the human digestive system have been identified as:
The smoking facts also show that smokers recover more slowly from infections.
The H pylori bacteria (also known as helicobacter pylori) are now known to be the cause of stomach ulcers.
Smoking does not seem to be one of the causes of
H pylori bacteria overgrowth.
That does not mean, however, that the health effects of smoking cigarettes have no influence on helicobacter pylori
infection.
The smoking facts do show that smokers are more resistant to treatment of H pylori bacteria which
leaves them more vulnerable to the development of
stomach cancer.
Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD) Disease
The human digestive system is designed to favour a very acid environment in the stomach. This helps for digestion of proteins.
The stomach has protective mechanisms to prevent damage from the acid produced there. Other structures do not.
The human digestive system has muscular sphincters at both
ends of the stomach and their purpose is to keep stomach contents in the stomach and not let them
slosh around and irritate other tissues.
One of the health effects of smoking cigarettes is the relaxation of these muscular sphincters.
When the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes then stomach contents can rise up into the esophagus. This is called gastroesophageal reflux (GERD disease).
When the pyloric sphincter relaxes then intestinal contents can backwash into the stomach for redigestion.
Both of these scenarios alter the normal environment necessary for the process of digestion to
occur properly in the stomach and can damage other tissues such as the esophagus.
The pancreas is also part of the human digestive system and secretes certain
digestive enzymes as well as making insulin to regulate blood sugar.
The pancreas is not immune to the effects of smoking cigarettes and many of the carcinogenic
ingredients in cigarettes have been isolated in pancreatic juices.
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.
