1. Understand the Conditional Connection
Acid reflux (commonly known as heartburn) occurs more frequently and with worse symptoms for many smokers. Smoking hinders the production of saliva, which contains bicarbonates. You experience heartburn when stomach acids push back up into your esophagus. Your natural bicarbonates neutralize the acids in your stomach, and the saliva provides a protective coating for your esophagus. Saliva also helps to wash the acids back down into your stomach where they belong. The less saliva you have, the less protection you have against heartburn.
2. Protect Your Valve
Smoking causes your stomach to produce more acid. It weakens the valve (called the esophageal sphincter) between your esophagus and your stomach, which hinders it from operating properly. The valve should close, keeping the stomach acids in the stomach. Years of regular smoking may damage that sphincter. If it doesn't close properly, stomach acids can rise into your esophagus and throat (in extra amounts due to smoking).
3. Smoking Shifts Stomach Acid
Smoking alters your stomach acid. Research shows that smoking affects the transfer of bile salts, causing them to move from the intestines to the stomach. This makes the stomach acid more potent and harmful. Over time, smoking also injure your esophagus. The esophagus becomes weaker, doesn't operate efficiently and becomes more prone to damage from acid reflux.
4. Avoid Tobacco Smoke From All Sources
Smoking slows down your digestive process. A smoker's stomach usually takes longer to empty after eating a meal and this can lead to indigestion. Research also shows that second-hand smoke can affects digestion for many people. Second-hand tobacco smoke can relax your sphincter and increase the production of stomach acid. So, you don't have to be a smoker yourself to be affected by the smoking-acid reflux connection.
5. Change Your Lifestyle
Lifestyle plays a definite role in creating acid reflux symptoms in many people. If you've been a regular or heavy smoker for 20 years or longer, research shows that you are 70% more likely to have serious acid reflux problems than a non-smoker. Kicking your habit may cure acid reflux. Stop smoking and steer clear of second-hand tobacco smoke, too.
