Effects of Smoking on Irritable Bowel Syndrome

[melya feros]

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a disorder that affects the large intestines. It exhibit symptoms such as cramping or pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating and gassiness. IBS is also known in other names such functional bowel disease, mucus colitis and spastic colon. However although it also makes use of the term colitis it should never be construed as an inflammatory bowel disease.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not a dangerous disorder and neither it is contagious nor cancerous. The greatest effect that IBS can have in a patient is to cause stress and discomfort which interrupts daily activities. Irritable Bowel Syndrome especially for married patients often affects their sexual lives.

Smoking and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Smoking does not only cause lung cancer but also worsen symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Tobacco just like caffeine and alcohol also worsen IBS symptoms. It really does not matter whether you smoked, chewed or inhaled Tobacco. The facts still remains that Tobacco is a potent GI tract irritant, carcinogen and stimulant.

People with Irritable Bowel Syndrome have sensitive gastrointestinal and are very susceptible to certain stimuli may it be in the form of food or even the simple waking up actions. Tobacco is one of the worst factors that trigger Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms and can cause various types of cancer.

Tobacco in general affects almost all the parts of the digestive system. It does not only cause heartburn but also reflux which are considered two conditions which IBS patients are likely to acquire. And since smoking damage the esophageal sphincter, the acidic contents of the stomach tend to flow upward and down into the lower portion of the esophagus.