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Medical News Today
an hour ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Smoking and GERD: Effects, link, and more
Smoking can increase the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and may increase the frequency and severity of symptoms. Quitting smoking may help to reduce GERD symptoms. Smoking tobacco or e-cigarettes will likely increase acid reflux, stomach acid production, and coughing, which can all contribute to the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). To reduce GERD symptoms, a healthcare professional may recommend quitting smoking. Smoking may increase the frequency of GERD symptoms. A 2025 study associated smoking e-cigarettes with a greater number of acidic refluxes than in non-smoking participants. Smoking may also worsen GERD symptoms. A 2024 study of 403 university students found that those who smoked tobacco or vaped had higher GERD symptom scores than non-smokers. Increased frequency of vaping linked to an increase in GERD symptoms. The study found that newer smokers experienced more severe symptoms than those who had been smoking for longer. This may be due to increased sensitivity to nicotine in new or light smokers, although further research is necessary to confirm findings. » Learn more:Vaping vs. smoking Smoking, including inhaling secondhand smoke, can weaken the LES. The LES is a muscle that sits between the esophagus and the stomach. The esophagus is a tube running from the throat to the stomach that transports food and liquids. The LES opens to allow food and liquids to pass from the esophagus to the stomach. It stays closed to prevent stomach contents traveling back up the esophagus. Weakening of the LES can lead to GERD. Smoking increases the amount of acid the stomach produces, which, in addition to the weakening of the LES, increases the risk of damage to the esophagus. According to a 2025 study, vaping may increase the risk of developing GERD. The study included 90 participants, and found vaping linked to increased acid reflux and may play a part in the development of GERD. This may be due to the effects of e-cigarettes on the LES. Other tobacco products may also increase the risk of GERD due to their nicotine content. Nicotine relaxes the LES, which increases reflux due to stomach acid flowing back up the esophagus. Quitting smoking may help to improve and reduce GERD symptoms. A 2024 study found that students who quit smoking and vaping had lower GERD symptom scores than current smokers. Quitting smoking may allow the LES to recover and regain its usual function, which can help reduce the severity and frequency of acid reflux. An older 2016 study tested the effects of smoking cessation on GERD. After one year, 141 participants achieved smoking cessation and 50 did not. The group of participants who quit smoking had 43.9% improvement in GERD symptoms and significantly less frequent symptoms, according to a self-report questionnaire. The group who did not quit only experienced 18.2% improvement. If people want to quit smoking or vaping, they can speak with a healthcare professional who can help them follow a quit plan. People can also find advice and support online through resources such as » Learn moreFive ways to quit smoking The following lifestyle changes can help improve and reduce GERD symptoms: maintain or achieve a moderate weight avoid foods and drinks that trigger or worsen GERD symptoms, which may include: spicy, acidic, or high fat foods caffeine alcohol use extra pillows or a soft wedge to raise the head and upper body by 6 to 8 inches when sleeping avoid eating at least 3 hours before lying down Managing other health issues, including asthma and diabetes, may also help reduce GERD symptoms. Exposure to secondhand smoke can be harmful for people with GERD, as it can have similar effects to smoking. Inhaling secondhand smoke can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, which may worsen acid reflux. Nicotine, a key component in tobacco products, relaxes the LES and can lead to acid reflux. Research suggests exposure to nicotine from any source may harm the digestive system and increase the frequency and severity of GERD symptoms. Some smoking cessation products, such as nicotine replacement therapy, may interact with some GERD medications. Nicotine may interact with cimetidine (Tagamet). Cimetidine is an antacid that reduces stomach acid, which may help manage GERD symptoms. It may increase nicotine levels in the blood, which may lead to toxicity. It is important to speak with a doctor before taking any GERD medications alongside smoking cessation products. Smoking is a risk factor for GERD, largely due to its effects on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Smoking weakens the LES, which allows stomach acid to flow back up the esophagus. Vaping, smoking other substances such as cannabis, consuming other tobacco products, and exposure to secondhand smoke may also increase the risk of GERD. Smoking may also increase the frequency and severity of GERD symptoms. Quitting smoking can help the LES to recover, which may reduce and improve GERD symptoms. Acid Reflux / GERD Smoking / Quit Smoking Preventive Medicine Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Health
- Forbes
Why Smoking Is Making A Comeback — And What It Means For Your Health
Gen Z is picking up where past generations left off—with a cigarette in hand. A cigarette lit on screen once symbolized noir, danger and cool detachment — think Bogart or David Lynch. Then came the lawsuits, anti-smoking campaigns, bans and the rise of vaping. For a while, it seemed America had finally kicked the habit. But now, a smoking comeback is underway. Zendaya lights up in 'Euphoria'; Jacob Elordi does the same in 'Saltburn.' Celebrities like Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Timothée Chalamet and Anya Taylor-Joy have been spotted puffing away, becoming modern-day "cigfluencers." In 2020, cigarette sales rose for the first time in decades — though still far below the 1981 peak of 636.5 billion. Even among teens, nicotine use is shifting from vapes back to traditional cigarettes. A recent report by Truth Initiative found that tobacco depictions in top films have increased for the first time since tracking began in 2002. So what can we do? From Trend to Relapse We've been here before. In the early 20th century, cigarette smoking was glamorized in Hollywood, normalized by doctors and deeply embedded in American life. By the 1960s, nearly half of U.S. adults smoked. Then came the fallout: emphysema, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer. The medical evidence caught up with the image. Public health campaigns, warning labels, advertising bans and billions in legal settlements helped turn the tide. Not to mention, the astronomical price for a pack of cigarettes and the fact that there's no longer any places to smoke in public. The 2020 Surgeon General's report marked a historic milestone: adult cigarette smoking in the U.S. had fallen to just 14% — the lowest rate ever recorded. It was one of the greatest public health wins of the modern era. But smoking never truly disappeared. It shape-shifted. First into cigars and hookahs, then into sleek USB-like vape devices. Vaping was marketed as a safer alternative — a harm-reduction strategy. But the reality is more complicated. Juul didn't kill the cigarette. It trained a new generation to inhale nicotine. Now, we're seeing a strange reversal: from vape to smoke. From digital detox to vintage, Instagrammable vice. And once again, public health is playing catch-up to pop culture. A Healthcare Advisor's Take: Why This Matters Now In my work advising families, executives and individuals navigating complex health decisions, I've learned one truth: the greatest threats aren't the ones making headlines. They're the silent resurgences — the risks we assumed were relegated to history. Like measles. For over 20 years, we nearly eradicated it. Vaccines turned a once-common childhood illness into a relic. But now, declining vaccination rates and global travel have breathed life back into this preventable disease. Outbreaks are flaring in communities we thought were protected. Same goes for whooping cough. The resurgence of smoking may look like an edgy accessory for Gen Z. But it has real consequences, especially for anyone with a family history of heart or lung disease. What makes this moment so dangerous is the normalization. When something taboo gets rebranded as a choice — even a form of rebellion — it catches many with their guard down. People start saying things like: 'I'm just a social smoker.' 'At least it's not vaping.' 'I don't inhale.' These are the same rationalizations we heard in the 1980s. We already know where they lead. Why the Anti-Smoking Playbook of the '90s Worked — and Why It's Not Enough Now Remember those visceral commercials from the Truth Initiative? Or the public testimonies from people with tracheostomies begging kids not to smoke? Those campaigns worked because they made the consequences impossible to ignore. They also had something else: funding, legislation and social momentum. Today, the cultural winds are different. Social media algorithms reward aesthetics, not public health. TikTok doesn't run public service announcements. And with vaping muddying the waters, many young people don't even understand what they're inhaling — or how much. Legislating Against the Cigarette Comeback Even as smoking regains cultural cachet, some states are pushing back with unprecedented measures. Nevada could soon make history by becoming the first U.S. state to outlaw cigarette sales to entire generations. A proposed law (AB 279) would permanently ban sales to anyone born after 2004 — a rising age restriction designed to phase out cigarettes entirely. What's Actually in a Cigarette For all the romanticization, cigarettes remain one of the deadliest consumer products ever marketed. A single cigarette contains more than 7,000 chemicals — 69 of which are known to cause cancer. Smoking contributes to 1 in 5 deaths in the U.S. each year. And it doesn't just affect the lungs. The one question I'll guarantee your doctor will ask for your next annual checkup is this: do you smoke? Smoking increases your risk of: It also accelerates aging, damages skin elasticity and reduces stamina — none of which pairs particularly well with the image of glamour it's trying to recapture. So Why Is Gen Z Smoking? There's no one answer. But here are a few forces at play: So What Can You Do? If you're a parent, provider or simply trying to keep yourself on a healthier path, here's what I advise: In healthcare, it's easy to focus only on diagnoses and prescriptions. But as advisors, we have to stay attuned to the cultural cues — the smoke signals — that precede behavior. When the smoking comeback starts trending again, it's not just an aesthetic choice. It's a public health flare. And if we don't speak up early, we may find ourselves fighting an old war with new casualties. So the next time someone says, 'It's just one,' don't ignore it. Intervene with empathy, context, and truth. Because this time, we know better.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
The eight things vaping's doing to your body that you didn't realise: After woman dies from cancer caused by vapes, experts reveal the shocking truth that will horrify millions
At least five million people in Britain vape on a regular basis – and roughly one million of them have never been smokers. E-cigarettes are more popular than ever before not just among tobacco users looking to quit but also non-smokers who want the buzz of a nicotine hit, without the deadly side-effects of toxins in cigarettes.
New York Post
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker is pushing Gen Z boys to the extreme left with twisted views on Israel, 9/11
The moral panic about Andrew Tate and his influence on young men has been massive — but what about the leftist, socialist and arguably antisemitic mega-streamer influencing millions of predominantly young male followers? Hasan Piker, known to his 2.9 million Twitch followers as HasanAbi, appeals to the same 'bro' demographic as stereotypical right-leaning manosphere influencers — popping nicotine pouches, gaming on livestream and hitting up the gym as well as gun ranges — but he sells a very different ideology. The 33-year-old New Jersey born streamer, who recently showed up at anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles in a bulletproof vest, has self-described as leftist, socialist and anti-capitalist. He holds enormous cultural sway with the Zoomers who flock to Twitch, a platform with more users in the 16- to 24-year-old demo than any other. Advertisement 8 Hasan Piker has more than 7 million followers across Twitch, X, Instagram, and YouTube. AP Parents should have their eye on Piker, who has told his 7.3 million followers across platforms — multiple times — that America 'deserved 9/11' and that Jews are 'inbred.' He is truly indefatigable and on Twitch for seven, eight, nine hours day, at least six days a week. As of June 18, Piker's only taken two days off since the month started, and streamed more than 10 hours on June 8. Advertisement Set up at his home monitor, the streamer flips through news clips and articles, from Al Jazeera to Fox News, and occasionally films himself gaming or giving dating advice. He will usually rack up more than a million views over the course of a stream. 8 Piker has said that America 'deserved 9/11' and that Jews are 'inbred.' Instagram/@hasandpiker Piker's stamina is matched only by that of his fans, who flood the comments at breakneck speed. 'May Allah awaken President Xi and allow him to see the evil doing of Israel and the United States,' one commenter said on a recent stream. Another chimed in when Piker showed a clip from Fox News: 'In a just world Fox News in its entirety would be lined up in the Hague for these lies and propaganda.' Advertisement Even after Piker logs off his hours-long video feed, the messages keep pouring in. In a recent livestream discussing Israel's conflict with Iran, he called Israel 'the giant baby nation with nuclear arms' and said its 'existence is a great shame and a serious stain.' 8 Hasan Piker suggested that the May Israeli Embassy shooting could have been a false flag operation. YouTube/HasanAbi Piker also suggested the May 21 Capital Jewish Museum shooting in DC, which left two young Israeli embassy staffers dead, was a 'false flag operation.' 'Every single thing that [accused shooter Elias Rodriguez] did in the aftermath of the shooting is so f–king crazy that it's like, you could not have designed a f–king incident like this,' he said on his livestream. Advertisement Major political figures on the left are clamoring to sit down with him. 8 Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared on Piker's livestream in March. HasanAbi/YouTube Pike got both AOC and Bernie Sanders on camera for an interview together in March, during which he gifted Rep. Ocasio-Cortez a booklet on the pro-Palestinian solidarity movement in Japan. In a recent interview with NYC democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, the pair discussed government-run housing and supermarkets, free public transport and criminal justice reform. 'I want Austrian style, Red Vienna, 65% of the entire city is just peppered with government housing, that's what I want,' Piker said as they bonded over donuts. 8 Piker interviewed Zohran Mamdani, NYC's democratic socialist mayoral candidate. HasanAbi/YouTube 'Let's talk about the unheard minority, the marginalized, people of wealth — POW — I feel like they're getting a hard bargain here with you,' Piker joked. 'Meritocracy, obviously real, Elon Musk worked the smartest and the hardest. Why do you hate the successful, wealthy people?' Meanwhile, Piker drives a $200,000 Porsche Taycan and lives in a nearly $3 million, 3,800 square foot West Hollywood home. Advertisement He was launched into popular consciousness via a strange and somewhat eroticized New York Times profile in April, with the headline 'A Progressive Mind in a MAGA Body.' 8 Piker owns an airsoft gun and occasionally posts photos from gun ranges. Instagram/@hasandpiker 'Mr. Piker's success on camera, in some part, has been aided by the fact that he is, by conventional standards, a very handsome man,' the profile fawned. 'He is 6 feet 4 inches tall and built like a professional athlete, with a square jaw, a beard and a head of thick dark hair.' While parents should laugh off the drooling, they'd be remiss to dismiss Piker's influence on young men who see him as aspirational. Advertisement He's a different kind of male role model than popular-right wing influencers — the sort who tells reporters at pro-Palestine rallies that 'a strong man protects those who can't protect themselves' and whose fans search desperately for a workout routine to achieve his physique. 8 Young male followers praise Piker (right) for his physique, which has inspired some to seek out his workout routine. @hasandpiker/Instagram There's a simplistic narrative that young men are moving to the right politically while young women are going to the left. While this might be more true of Gen Z than with prior generations, the fact of the matter is, kids are liable to go down any number of online rabbit holes. I know this as a Zoomer who grew up with YouTube and, as a tween and young teen, was led to the right and to the left at various times by algorithmic feedback loops. Piker's socialism isn't exactly fringe in Gen Z. A 2022 Pew poll found more 18- to 29-year-olds had a positive view of socialism (44%) than capitalism (40%), and a 2024 YouGov survey found 25% of that same age group had a positive view of communism. Advertisement 8 Piker streams up to 10 hours a day, at least six days a week, on Twitch. Instagram/@hasandpiker It's easier today than ever for a kid who's learning about the world to attach to a couple online voices — whether Andrew Tate or Hasan Piker — as portals to the outside world they're desperate to make sense of. While the mainstream media has its panties in a bunch over influencers turning young men conservative, they're writing fawning puff pieces about the radical left-wing streamers pushing youth to the opposite extreme. We should be equally concerned about kids getting radicalized in any direction — and all play our part in modeling skepticism, critical thinking and media literacy for a generation growing up in the internet age.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Up in smoke: Minister for Health snubs tobacco industry
The tobacco industry's hopes of meeting the Minister for Health went up in smoke recently when requests were snubbed citing commitments to World Health Organisation (WHO) articles on tobacco regulation. Two of the largest tobacco companies in the world have urged the Irish Government to regulate nicotine pouches and to add age restrictions to the product, according to documents released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act. Concerns around vaping and nicotine pouches are very much the issues of the day, so to hear Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and British American Tobacco (BAT) lobbying for these changes is perhaps not surprising. Will rent reform make building apartments viable? Listen | 40:12 Notably, though, tobacco companies are blowing the whistle on nicotine-inhaling products which are targeting young people. READ MORE 'We have seen products with 'Gummy Bear', 'Jolly Ranger', 'Skittels' and 'Slushee' flavour descriptions. Products which are shaped like toy guns and 'fidget spinner' toys,' JTI said in a consultative submission on the Further Regulation of Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products. Owning Nordic Spirit- and Velo-branded pouches respectively, JTI and BAT are seeking to get ahead of and shape the regulation of their products. These attempts, however, were not hugely successful. Representatives of both then minister for health Stephen Donnelly, and current Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, responded identically to the two companies, citing Article 5.3 of the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to which Ireland is a signatory. 'In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law,' their representatives said. 'In this context, it would not be appropriate for the Minister to engage on the topics posed in your letter.' Conveniently for any journalists sniffing around the topic, the representative reminded JTI that the company must include their letter and attempt at shaping the sector's regulation to the Standards Commission under lobbying regulations. Ironically, it was pointed out that the 'correspondence may be made available to the public under a Freedom of Information request'. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
