Cigarette Smoking Causes Heartburn
How does smoking contribute to heartburn? Studies have shown that cigarette smoking dramatically decreases the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) pressure. It is well known that smoking causes a variety of life-threatening diseases, including lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease. What is less understood by patients is that smoking has also been shown to have harmful effects on all parts of the digestive system, and especially contributes to the common disorder of heartburn.

Smoking decreases the strength of the esophageal valve, thereby allowing more refluxed material into the esophagus. To make matters worse, smoking also seems to promote the movement of bile from the intestine to the stomach to produce a more harmful reflux material. And, finally, smoking may directly injure the esophagus, possibly by reducing the amount of saliva, making it less able to resist further damage by material refluxed from the stomach.

Not all the effects of smoking on the digestive system are fully understood but it seems clear from research results that smoking plays an important role in causing some digestive problems such as heartburn.

Weight is a Contributing Factor to Heartburn (GERD)
Obesity is one of the many factors predisposing people to gastroesophageal reflux. The effects of diet and a fitness program upon gastroesophageal reflux in obese persons was studied by a group of investigators from the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. This study concluded that exercise and weight reduction decrease gastroesophageal reflux in obese persons.

Chocolate and Peppermint Cause Heartburn in Many People
Heartburn occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (called the LES), located at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach, either relaxes inappropriately or is very weak. This allows the highly acidic contents of the stomach to back up into the esophagus. Both chocolate and peppermint are thought to cause the LES to relax and allow the contents of the stomach to back up into the esophagus. Other foods associated with heartburn include tomato products, citrus fruits and juices, coffee, and fried and fatty foods.

Hiatal Hernia Causes Heartburn
The fact is, while some people who suffer from heartburn also have a hiatal hernia, heartburn is not caused by the hernia. A hiatal hernia is the protrusion of a portion of the stomach through a teardrop-shaped hole in the diaphragm where the esophagus and the stomach join. The most frequent cause of hiatal hernia is an increased pressure in the abdominal cavity produced by coughing, vomiting, straining at stool, or sudden physical exertion. A majority of people over 60 have hiatal hernias and, in most cases, the hiatal hernia does not cause problems. While hiatal hernias are not the cause of heartburn, larger hiatal hernias tend to develop in patients who have long-term GERD.

Over-the-Counter Remedies May Help Infrequent Heartburn
The fact is that many people have discovered non-prescription antacids and newer over-the-counter medications (called H2 blockers) can be effective treatment and provide relief for infrequent episodes of heartburn. Long-term use of antacids can, however, result in side effects like diarrhea, altered calcium metabolism, and magnesium retention. Magnesium retention can be serious for patients with kidney disease. As with other non-prescription drugs, if prolonged use (longer than 3 weeks) becomes necessary, consult your doctor.