SMOKING AND YOUR STOMACH

SMOKING AND YOUR STOMACH
It's definitely not helping your ulcers
You may think about your lung health when you light up, but how often do you consider your stomach? Smoking is known to cause numerous health problems, but did you know that there's a strong connection between smoking and ulcers? Ulcers are more likely to occur, less likely tot heal, and more likely to cause death in smokers than in nonsmokers. Doctors are not really sure why this is so, but smoking does seem to be one of several factors that work together to promote the formation of ulcers. For example, some research suggests that smoking might increase a person's risk of infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylon (H pylon), which causes most peptic ulcers.
Stomach is also important in producing ulcers. Some studies show that smoking interferes with the neutralization of acid in the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). Other studies suggest that chronic cigarette smoking may increase the amount of acid secreted by the stomach.
If you suffer from stomach pain, add that to the list of health reasons to quit smoking. There are several methods to make the process successful, from nicotine replacement therapy to stress-reduction tapes that are shown to help people quit for good.
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