Smoking has profound and detrimental effects on the digestive system, impacting various organs and functions integral to digestion. Know how smoking impacts the digestive system New Delhi: Smoking is the leading cause of death across the world. It severely impacts health ranging from cardiovascular health to the brain, to early ageing, respiratory illnesses and even cancer.
People may often think about what happens to their stomachs when they smoke. Smoking has profound and detrimental effects on the digestive system, impacting various organs and functions integral to digestion. Dr Vigyan Mishra Chief of lab -Neuberg Diagnostics, Noida told News9 , “One of the primary components of cigarette smoke is nicotine, which, alongside other harmful chemicals, disrupts the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
” “Firstly, smoking has been linked to the weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle responsible for preventing stomach acid from entering the esophagus. This can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), characterized by chronic heartburn and acid reflux. The irritation and damage caused by stomach acid can increase the risk of esophageal cancer over time.
” Smoking stimulates the production of gastric acid In the stomach, smoking stimulates the production of gastric acid while simultaneously reducing the production of bicarbonate, a substance that helps neutralise stomach acid. “This imbalance can lead to the development of peptic u.
