Smoking and the colon | Miscellaneous | Ammon News Agency

Ammon – There is no doubt that smoking in particular harms the heart, respiratory system and lungs, and smoking also has a significant negative impact on the health of the colon and rectum, as toxins and carcinogens are believed to contained in tobacco smoke can lead to damage to DNA and body tissues.With the passage of time, so many health problems are likely to appear on the health of the body including the colon, while the he statement of the harmful effects of smoking on the colon is quite detailed.

Smoking and the colon
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be defined as a chronic disorder of the large intestine that requires long-term treatment, and it is a common and non-dangerous condition, and it is not considered an infectious or cancerous disease . The syndrome can cause the patient to feel tense and uncomfortable, which can negatively affect their ability to carry out daily activities.

In general, smoking is one of the worst factors that stimulate the development of IBS symptoms. As its components enter the bloodstream and pass through the digestive system, which can affect all parts of it, it can lead to an exacerbation of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, including: feeling pain and cramps in the abdominal region, diarrhea, constipation, bloated feeling, belching and accumulation of gas. In addition, smoking can also cause heartburn and reflux of stomach acids, which are two conditions that patients with irritable bowel syndrome are likely to suffer from, and on the mechanism of the effect of smoking on the digestive system and cause heartburn and reflux of its acids; Smoking can be said to have negative effects on the esophageal sphincter (in English: Esophageal sphincter), as it can weaken it, which can lead to an increase in the production of stomach acids and their flow in the lower part of the esophagus, and at the same time smoking can reduce the production of sodium bicarbonate (in English: Sodium bicarbonate) by the pancreas, an important substance in the equation of stomach acids.

Smoking and inflammatory bowel disease
There are two types of inflammatory bowel disease; These are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and the effect of smoking in each case can be explained as follows:

Crohn’s disease: it often affects the lower part of the small intestine, causing diarrhea and abdominal cramps. It should be noted that smoking can make a person more susceptible to Crohn’s disease, as we mentioned earlier, tobacco smoke contains many substances that can affect the gut in different ways. Including: nicotine, free radicals and carbon monoxide. Smoking can cause many problems and changes in the immune system. It can also cause changes in bacteria found naturally in the gastrointestinal tract, in addition to its effect on how genes work, and these can make a person more susceptible to Crohn’s disease, and complications and The most significant harm that smoking can cause to patients with Crohn’s disease can be stated as follows:

The development of more serious complications and symptoms compared to non-smokers, including: Suffering from a narrowing of the intestine, which can lead to severe obstruction.

Increase the likelihood that patients will need to undergo surgery.

Increased risk of developing flare-ups or flare-ups, compared to non-smokers.

Reduce their response to immunosuppressive drugs (in English: Immunosuppressants), as they may be prescribed in some cases of Crohn’s; But they can be ineffective in smokers, and examples include: Biologic drugs and steroids.

An increased risk of fistulas, which are abnormal internal openings that appear as channels, which may require surgery to control the problem.

Increased risk of complications and health problems outside of the gut, such as: eye disorders, arthritis (English: Arthritis), skin problems and weak bones known medically as osteoporosis.

Ulcerative colitis: (in English: ulcerative colitis), an inflammatory disease that usually attacks the lining of the colon, causing inflammation and the formation of small ulcers, which can lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea and extreme fatigue. Some studies have indicated that Ulcerative colitis is less common in smokers than in non-smokers, but this does not negate the many health risks associated with smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking can increase the risk of lung cancer, stroke and heart disease, and its effect can reach almost every organ in the body. body.

Smoking and colon polyps and its cancers
Cigarette smoke contains many carcinogens, the most important and common of which is benzopyrene. It is believed that these substances can damage DNA and that the body’s ability to repair this damage may decrease over time.

It should be noted that smokers are more likely to develop colon cancer, as some studies have shown that the risk of colon cancer in smokers is somewhat equivalent to the risk of having a family history of the disease. Just as a parent, sibling or child has colon cancer,[٨] In a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2010, it was shown that smokers were 18% more likely to develop colorectal cancer than non-smokers. controlled and stop smoking to reduce the associated risks.

On the other hand, noncancerous lumps can develop in the colon and rectum in people, especially smokers. They are known as colon polyps, and although they are mostly benign, they can grow from benign to cancerous, and in general smokers tend to have larger and more colon polyps .

Effects of smoking cessation on the colon
Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps that brings many health benefits to the body, as we mentioned earlier, smokers are susceptible to many serious health issues, and once you quit smoking, a noticeable improvement will occur in the body which begins within hours and continues after that, including positive changes in the digestive system, which will be explained as follows:

Restore the balance between substances that protect the stomach and the mucous membrane of the duodenum (in English: Duodenum) and harmful substances to normal.
Reduce the risk of smoking-related diseases; Like colon polyps, but there will always be an increased risk of developing them compared to people who have never smoked in their lifetime.
Symptoms improve significantly in patients with Crohn’s disease or any other disease associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
Increase your chances of living longer.