Smoking increases risk of gastroesophageal reflux and Crohn's disease

Smoking kills about half of its users, reaping approximately six million lives worldwide annually.

More than 60 carcinogenic agents have been identified in cigarette smoke, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, N-nitrosamines, metals and aldehydes, which are capable of directly damaging the cells' DNA . Another mechanism through which smoking affects DNA is by hypermethylation of the genetic material. The direct damage to the genetic material and its hypermethylation leads to the activation or inhibition of the function of some genes and, as a final result, we have an increased risk of tumors. Smoking increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver and intestine.

Every smoker should seek to know the harmful effects of smoking and, when deciding to combat addiction, seek medical help to help in this process. Besides this increase in the risk of neoplasias, this habit leads to a reduction in the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter, exactly the sphincter that is at the border between the esophagus and the stomach, and consequently predisposes to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It has also been shown that those who continue to smoke have a higher risk of developing GERD complications such as cancer and esophageal stricture.

Smoking reduces blood flow to the mucosa of the digestive tract and decreases the production of mucus in the stomach, increasing the chance of a person with H. pylori gastritis developing a peptic ulcer. When the subject is gut it is known that smoking increases the risk of Crohn's disease, an inflammatory disease that affects every gastrointestinal tract.

Some studies show that smoking increases the risk of gallbladder stones, cirrhosis, complications of hepatic steatosis and pancreatitis.

Stopping of intestinal polyps. smoking helps to reverse much of these risks mentioned above and within a few hours it is already possible to notice positive changes such as an improvement in the circulation of the gastrointestinal tract. Among the diseases that have an improved prognosis when smoking cessation, we can mention DREG, peptic ulcer and Crohn's disease.

A single cigarette can already cause changes in the digestive tract and, more importantly, it can not be forgotten that it is from of the first cigarette that begins the risk of addiction.

Every smoker should seek to know the harmful effects of smoking and, when deciding to combat addiction, seek medical help to assist in this process.

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