Stop Smoking
Smoking is the process of inhaling and exhaling fumes that comes from burning plant material. This addiction is harmful not only to the respiratory parts of the body but also to the digestive parts. Smoking weakens the lower esophageal sphincter, causing food particles, fluids, and stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus. Smoking also reduces the amount of bicarbonate or ions in one’s saliva, which helps neutralize acids. Smoking also increases levels of inflammation in the stomach, heightening the symptoms of GERD.
Studies have shown that patients who are smokers have more severe symptoms than non-smokers. Several phenomenological studies also show that patients who quit smoking experience more relaxed muscles, making the pain and discomfort more tolerable.
Once the addiction is over, patients experience less discomfort, pain, and symptoms. In addition, quitting smoking will signal the stomach to produce less acid content. This will lessen the frequency of the gastric juices refluxing from the stomach into the esophagus. It will also reduce the possibility of bile salts being transferred from the intestine into the stomach.
