If you’re having tummy trouble, tobacco use may be partly to blame. The chemicals in tobacco can irritate your throat, stomach and intestines causing painful digestive issues like acid reflux (heartburn), ulcers and bowel disease. Tobacco use also increases your risk of digestive cancers, including cancer of the stomach, pancreas and colon.

Heartburn

Heartburn is caused by the acidic juices your stomach makes to digest food moving from the stomach to the esophagus (a tube that runs from the throat to the stomach). Smoking makes this more likely to happen because the chemicals in cigarette smoke weaken the part of your digestive system that keeps acidic juices in your stomach, making you more likely to experience heartburn.

Stomach Ulcers

The chemicals in tobacco irritate the lining of your stomach and make it a more comfortable place for certain bacteria to live. Because of this, people who smoke are more likely to experience peptic ulcers; painful sores in the stomach lining.

Bowels

Smoking has been linked to gastrointestinal problems like Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition that causes the bowel to become inflamed, leading to symptoms like stomach pains, diarrhea, anemia and fatigue. Tobacco use makes Crohn’s disease more serious and more likely to require surgery to treat. Smoking is also linked to more severe IBS symptoms like intestinal cramping, bloating, and a burning sensation in your stomach. However, quitting may help reduce them.

How to Improve Gut Health

If you’re ready to take charge of your gut health and reduce your risk of digestive cancers and other problems later, quitting tobacco is a great place to start. There are a lot of resources available to help you live a tobacco-free life. You can start by speaking with your healthcare provider or by checking out the tools and resources here.