Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have heartburn; and when a smoker gets heartburn, it tends to last longer than a nonsmoker's heartburn does.
just the facts
More than 10 percent of all people have heartburn at least once a week.
definition
Heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. It's a digestive tract problem. It happens when acid from the stomach moves up into the esophagus (the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach), causing a burning pain. The name 'heartburn' comes from the fact that the pain is usually up high, near where the heart is, rather than down low like some other kinds of stomachaches. Heartburn is very unpleasant, but it's usually not serious. It is a common problem, though. More than 10 percent of all people have heartburn at least once a week.
explanation
Smoking weakens the valve between the esophagus and stomach that is supposed to keep acid down in the stomach where it belongs. Because the valve doesn't work as well in smokers, more acid gets up into the esophagus, where it can cause trouble. And when acid gets into the esophagus, it stays there longer in smokers than in nonsmokers. Therefore, when a smoker gets heartburn, it tends to last longer than a nonsmoker's heartburn does.
