"The Smoking Cockroach in: The Darker Wave 3: Smoking Tricks"
Don't you just really love the internet!
Posted on 08/27/2003 4:11:13 PM PDT by Just another Joe
That's not what your wife tells everybody, Shorty.
Either your friend was an undergrad or he was writing his Ph.D thesis.
Which is it, FRiend?
But you would think that your permission was a requirement, wouldn't you?
If you're done with the childish "stinky" attack template, would you care to address the subject of your narcissism, which I find stinky?
I have third degree heartburn from listening to you whine, young man.
Now Eric, lad, please let's not get into your little jockstrap fetish. This is a family forum.
What have you contributed ?
By smoking, I contribute one heck of a lot more in taxes than you do, squeamish little fella.
And stop FReepmailing me your insults; it's cowardly, but the behavior's to be expected from you I guess.
Perhaps you should give up smoking!
_______________________________________________
Smoking and Heartburn
Despite evidence of related health hazards, not to mention ubiquitous "No Smoking" signs, nicotine continues to hold millions in its addictive grip. More than one fourth of the adult American population smokes cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.1
While smoking causes a variety of damaging effects on the whole body, it is particularly destructive to the upper airway and the digestive system.1, 2
Current research on smoking and heartburn
Early medical reports began characterizing the negative effects of smoking as early as 1859, describing patients with oral tumors.1 While the relationship between smoking and various lung diseases, like emphysema, has long been established,3 clinical studies now link smoking to digestive diseases as well.4-7
Smoking damages the digestive system
Studies indicate that smoking relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES relaxes or is not functioning properly, acidic stomach juices can reflux into the esophagus, which results in the sensation known as heartburn.
One report showed that esophageal acid exposure increased by over 50 percent after smoking. Interestingly, heartburn episodes were more frequent - 114 percent more likely to occur - during the daytime when sufferers were standing upright. (Typically the force of gravity works in heartburn sufferers' favor during the day.)
Other studies have shown that smoking has harmful effects on salivary function that result in a longer than normal time to remove or "clear" the esophagus of any acid.1,8 The longer it takes for acid to be cleared, the more damage can occur. Notably, other reports contend that smoking changes the composition of the saliva, which normally contains acid-neutralizing chemicals known as bicarbonates. Smokers' saliva contains markedly smaller amounts of bicarbonates, thus reducing the ability of the saliva to neutralize stomach acid that can damage esophageal tissues.5,8
Wide-ranging bodily effects are potentially serious as well
Smoking has been shown to cause an overall level of "digestive stress" that may alter the way in which food is digested and processed.2 In addition, the liver may be damaged by smoking, causing this vital organ to not process drugs and alcohol in normal ways.2
What can be done to reduce smoking-related heartburn?
Because smoking diminishes the natural protective ability of saliva, increases the rate of heartburn episodes, and increases the acid clearance time from within the esophagus,5 any amount of smoking can further increase your chances of developing heartburn. However, moderating your tobacco intake can limit the severity and duration of heartburn symptoms triggered by smoking.
"The Smoking Cockroach in: The Darker Wave 3: Smoking Tricks"
Don't you just really love the internet!
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