Is Smoking Making My Acid Reflux Worse?
As we discuss this blog topic, it’s important to keep in mind that smoking is a lifestyle factor that affects reflux, but it also affects much more than this. If you or a loved one smokes, it’s likely that you or they are aware of all of the complications of smoking. Let’s focus solely on smoking as acid reflux and GERD agitators, keeping in mind that untreated GERD can lead to conditions like esophageal cancer, Barrett's esophagus, and more. In this post, we will answer questions like does nicotine increase stomach acid, does smoking weaken your esophagus, and does acid reflux go away after quitting smoking?
Does Smoking Affect Acid Reflux?
Unfortunately, the compounds in cigarettes do affect the esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), even though you aren’t technically swallowing the smoke. The effects that cigarette smoke has on the body are mainly systemic, causing widespread inflammation. Cigarette smoke also tends to reduce the acid-neutralizing properties of the saliva. This tends to contribute to esophageal irritation.
Does Nicotine Increase Stomach Acid?
Nicotine is the main compound responsible for your stomach woes while smoking. Once in the body, nicotine does a number of things that affect your ability to digest food properly:
Nicotine increases stomach acid production
Nicotine can cause bile to back up into your stomach
Nicotine slows down digestion, complicating everything further
These factors alone can cause more acid reflux; combined, they may even be solely responsible for your GERD troubles.
Does Smoking Weaken Your Esophagus?
In a roundabout way, yes. Widespread inflammation and the decreased ability to reduce the acidity of swallowed foods all slowly contribute to the weakening of the esophagus. Prolonged irritation of any organ tends to lead to dangerous conditions like cancer, so it’s incredibly important to reduce inflammation and irritation where possible. Furthermore, the digestion issues caused by nicotine above can cause acid reflux - acid reflux itself can damage and weaken the esophagus, as well.
Does Acid Reflux Go Away After Quitting Smoking?
It’s difficult to answer this question for every individual. For patients whose GERD was caused solely by nicotine (and no permanent damage has occurred), complete remission could be possible. However, some smokers may have accrued permanent esophageal damage and damage to the LES that will need to be repaired for their symptoms to completely disappear.
How Do I Quit Smoking?
There’s a very good reason there’s a whole empire built around helping people quit smoking. Unfortunately, cigarette addiction can be crippling and feel impossible to overcome. As some general rules of thumb, distraction and other oral fixations will be your lifeline. You can try slowly weaning yourself or go “cold turkey.” Regardless, quitting smoking will be one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, things that you do in your life.
Are There Other Benefits of Quitting?
As we hinted at in the beginning, quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your overall health. Smoking cessation will have the following effects on your health:
Lower heart rate & blood pressure
Better lung function, less coughing, and slower breathing patterns
Greatly decreased heart disease risk
Greatly decreased cancer risk
Better overall physical hygiene
Increased ability to taste and smell things
What Do I Do if My GERD Doesn’t Go Away?
If your acid reflux doesn’t completely cease after you quit smoking, first remember that there are other benefits that you have gained. Don’t let persistent heartburn convince you to regress. Acid reflux can be caused by many surprising things. That being said, there are things you can do to eliminate your heartburn for good. For example, here at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we offer reflux surgeries that can help you get your life back. To talk with a reflux specialist or to schedule an appointment right here in Tampa Bay, contact us today!