What Are Some Of The Harmful Effects Of Smoking On The Digestive System?
Smoking has been shown to have harmful effects on all parts of the digestive system, contributing to such common disorders as heartburn and peptic ulcers. The effects of smoking on the liver often are not discussed, but studies show that smoking may alter the way in which the liver handles drugs and alcohol. In addition, smoking apparently changes the way in which food is processed by the body. In fact, there seems to be enough evidence to stop smoking solely on the basis of digestive distress. How Does Smoking Contribute To Heartburn? Heartburn is a very common disorder among Americans. Heartburn is especially common among pregnant women, with 25 percent reporting daily heartburn and more than 50 percent experiencing occasional distress. Most people will experience heartburn if the lining of the esophagus comes into contact with too much stomach juice for a long period of time. This stomach juice consists of acid produced by the stomach, as well as bile salts and digestive enzymes tha
