What Is The Cause Of Heartburn

Q.Does smoking cigarettes cause heartburn? I was wondering if anyone suffers from heartburn caused by smoking. I don't smoke, but my dad does. He complains of heartburn, but he avoids spicey foods. That's why I was wondering if it caused heartburn. I have tried to get him to quit numerous times, but he's set in his ways.

A.My father had the same problem. He had ulcers, though, and the smoking just exacerbated the stress that he was already under, thus producing more stomach acid. I never had heartburn as a result of smoking, and until last week, I was a smoker for 16 years. I had noticed heartburn now that I had quit, though. I think that it's just a temporary side effect to the nicotine withdrawal, though. Smoking does make your heart beat faster, and will make you produce more stomach acid as a result. It normally will not cause any problems unless there is already a pre-existing medical condition (like peptic ulcers or a hiatal hernia). He needs to quit smoking regardless, however, before you press him to quit, press him to go to a doctor specializing in internal medicine and get him to have an upper GI series done to point out any ulcers or complications that he may have in his gastrointestinal tract.

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