Smoking can worsen heartburn. If you smoke and suffer from heartburn, you may want to consider quitting or at least reducing the amount you smoke. Smoking can weaken and relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), allowing stomach contents to reflux back into the esophagus. Smoking also stimulates the production of stomach acid. For more facts about smoking and heartburn, please read this article.

_Source:

_{"Heartburn Or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)." The American College of Gastroenterology, n.d. <http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/women/whatisgerd.asp>.}

_{"The Word on GERD -- Straight Answers to Your Questions about Heartburn & GERD." The American College of Gastroenterology, n.d. <http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gerd/straight.asp>.}

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