Information on Stomach Cancer, Gastric Health, and the Effects of Smoking Cigarettes
Current information on stomach cancer indicates that gastric or stomach cancer
is one of the diseases caused by smoking.
The facts about the gastric health effects of smoking
cigarettes show there are many changes
that can occur in the stomach environment as a result of the harmful effects of tobacco smoke. None of them are favourable on your digestion.
Once you understand the many ways that smoking affects digestion it lends new meaning to the phrase "upset stomach".
The Stomach and The Digestion Process
Digestion is a process that starts in your mouth when saliva mixes with food and you chew
your food into small pieces. This makes it easier for the stomach to continue with
the process of digestion.
Food passes into the stomach from the mouth through the esophagus. Once in the stomach, the
process of digestion continues while the stomach churns the food and secretes juices
(both acids and enzymes) to dissolve the food matter, releasing nutrients and making them more
suitable for further digestive action in the small intestine.
Food passes into the small intestine through the pylorus and it is in the intestine that other digestive juices and further actions of digestion occur.
For
example, your pancreas secretes digestive juices that counteract the acids secreted by the stomach and a
variety of other processes happen there as well.
All of these processes must work together for healthy digestion and the proper
absorption of nutrients from the food you eat.
Gastric Health Effects of Smoking Cigarettes
- Saliva contains chemicals that neutralize stomach acid. Smoking slows the production
of saliva which is an important first step in the digestion process.
- Cigarette smoke damages esophageal tissue making it more susceptible to damage from acid reflux. (See Cancer of the Esophagus)
- Chemicals in tobacco smoke have been identified as being among the agents that can
cause acid reflux.
- Smoking seems to promote the reflux of bile salts from the intestines back into the stomach making the stomach contents more irritating.
- Smoking stimulates the production of stomach acid resulting in a hyperacidic gastric environment.
More Information on Stomach Cancer
The Smoking Facts
Smoking is among the risk factors for gastric carcinoma.
The American Cancer Society states that
smoking just about doubles the risk. This may be because smoking is
also associated with some of the other risk factors for stomach cancer which include:
- chronic irritation or inflammation of lining of the stomach (gastritis) - also one of the
adverse health effects of smoking cigarettes.
- presence of the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria - This is the bacteria that is known to be associated with stomach ulcers.
The smoking facts show that an association between smoking and the presence of H pylori has been confirmed.
- genetics - in some families there is a greater tendency to develop stomach cancer.
Smoking does not change your genetics but the family environment has been shown to
influence the decision to take up cigarette smoking. See Effects of Cigarettes and Smoking - Family Smoking Facts
Prior to 2001 a large body of evidence providing information on stomach cancer was reviewed for the US Surgeon General's report. It led to this conclusion:
"Data on smoking and cancer of the stomach. . .are unclear."
(2001, p. 231)
However, in 2004 when the latest information on stomach cancer and the health effects of
smoking cigarettes was reviewed again, the
US Surgeon General's Report reached a different conclusion:
"The evidence is sufficient to infer a causal relationship between smoking and gastric cancers."
Information on Stomach Cancer Survival Rates
Stomach cancer survival rates at five years are usually under 25% in all populations.
This means that up to 75% of the people who receive a gastric or stomach cancer diagnosis will die
from the disease. Survival is much better if the gastric carcinoma has not spread beyond the stomach tissue.
The smoking facts are in and gastric or stomach cancer is now recognized as one of the diseases
caused by smoking. At the very least the adverse effects of smoking cigarettes on the digestion are
enough to make you sick.
With the body of evidence about the gastric health effects of smoking cigarettes showing that
it has a deleterious effect on food digestion and can predispose to stomach cancer in the long run,
it really makes the practice of smoking following a meal quite questionable.
When you understand the many ways that smoking affects the stomach and digestion, it is enough to make you sick to your stomach.
Go back to The Human Digestive System - Smoking Facts About H Pylori Bacteria and GERD
Go back to Diseases Caused By Smoking - Facts on the Health Dangers of Smoking Cigarettes
Go back to Smoking and Cancer - Facts on Smoking Risks and a Cancer Diagnosis
Go home to Smoking Facts Reveal the Real Dangers of Cigarette Smoking
