Chewing Tobacco and Stomach Problems: Cancer, Ulcers, and Other Effects
What does chewing tobacco do to your stomach? Unfortunately, chewing tobacco and stomach problems are closely intertwined.
Smokeless tobacco contains toxic chemical ingredients confirmed by studies to promote and increase the risk for more than a few cancers. This includes the stomach. But that’s not the only damage it can cause to the stomach, disrupting the body’s microbiome, wearing down the protective inner layer of the stomach, and increasing the risk for acid reflux.
With Grinds dipping alternative, you can quit smokeless tobacco once and for all. Save your stomach and health with this naturally-made, flavorful, energy-boosting nicotine and tobacco-free dip that can help you fend off addictive cravings.
For more information on how Grind's tobacco-free dip can help you quit and how chewing tobacco can cause severe repercussions and damage your stomach and health, continue reading!
Are Chewing Tobacco and Stomach Problems Related?
Yes, the chewing tobacco effects on stomach health are many, so it is vital to stop using tobacco products like dip immediately.
The toxicity of tobacco, when ingested through chewing tobacco, begins in the mouth in its path of ravaging damage to the body. It is known to cause cancers starting in the mouth and traveling down to the throat, stomach, bladder, and rectum.
According to the CDC, tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of cancer and cancer deaths. Smokeless tobacco is more known to cause pancreatic, oral, and esophageal cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute, with more than 28 cancer-causing chemicals making up the product, but it doesn’t stop there.
Chewing tobacco has many other harmful effects on the body that should be considered. For example, this tobacco and nicotine-based product is incredibly damaging to the stomach and can make a person’s quality of life painful, affecting necessary bodily functions like digestion.
What are the Chewing Tobacco Effects on Stomach Health?
What does chewing tobacco do to your stomach? Also, what chewing tobacco effects on stomach health should you be concerned about? All of them.
Chewing tobacco contains harmful chemicals, like tobacco and nicotine, that are known to cause detrimental damage to the body. Below, we’ll discuss what exactly chewing tobacco stomach pain can occur if you’ve begun chewing tobacco and don’t quit!
Does Chewing Tobacco Increase Stomach Acid?
Whether chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes, tobacco use will cause an influx of acid production in the stomach. This results in a heightened risk of acid reflux.
When ingested, nicotine relaxes smooth muscles located within the body. Smooth muscles help in different organ systems. For example, in the gastrointestinal system, smooth muscles aid in the absorption of nutrients, enable the flow of digestion, and remove residues.
The lower esophageal sphincter’s function is to defend the body against gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, nicotine forces the sphincter's smooth muscles to relax, drastically increasing the risk of acid traveling back into the esophagus and causing damage.
Can Chewing Tobacco Cause Stomach Ulcers?
So, can chewing tobacco cause stomach ulcers?
Currently, there is not enough evidence to verify whether chewing tobacco can cause stomach ulcers. This study discussed the differences between smoking cigarettes and smokeless tobacco on gastrointestinal effects.
The study stated that smoking cigarettes are heavily associated with peptic ulcer disease, unlike chewing tobacco. Smokeless tobacco was found to drastically alter the histology (the microscopic structure of tissues) of the distal esophagus.
Can Chewing Tobacco Cause Stomach Cancer?
So, can chewing tobacco cause stomach cancer?
Smokeless tobacco is absorbed into the gums, and chewing dip can affect the mouth and throat more severely than smoking cigarettes or vaping. As a result, the chances of being diagnosed with stomach, esophageal, oral, or pancreatic cancer are significantly increased.
Between chewing tobacco vs smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco increases the risk of developing cancer in the gums or cheeks by 50-fold. In addition, users are four times more at risk of being diagnosed with oral cancer than non-users.
A study presented that smokeless tobacco use drastically increased cancer risk and mortality rate from the stomach, uterine cervix, and upper aerodigestive tract (UADT). Overall, the use of smokeless tobacco significantly increases the risk of being diagnosed with stomach cancer and multiple forms of other cancers.
Other Chewing Tobacco Effects on Stomach Health
Chewing tobacco has been shown to produce damage to gastric mucosa. The gastric mucosa is a mucous membrane lining the stomach. It is responsible for protecting the stomach wall from acid and digestive enzymes and helping lubricate food in the stomach to encourage movement in the digestion process.
Other Risks of Chewing Tobacco Beyond Your Stomach Health
Beyond stomach health, chewing tobacco instigates other incredibly negative repercussions on a person’s overall health.
Some examples of other risks of chewing tobacco include:
- Increased chances of numerous cancers, like mouth, stomach, and esophageal cancer
- Nicotine addiction
- Risk of stillbirth or birth defects in pregnant women
- Increased risk of death by stroke, cancer, and heart disease
- Can cause nicotine poisoning in children
- It can cause gray or white patches in the mouth
- Causes mouth sores
- It can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss
As nicotine and tobacco are addictive chemicals, it can be challenging to quit using smokeless tobacco or other tobacco products. Knowing what happens when you stop dipping and the symptoms of quitting chewing tobacco can be beneficial in considering stopping before you start using smokeless tobacco.
If you’ve already started using smokeless tobacco, assess the best way to quit chewing tobacco to help fend off cravings so you can quit chewing tobacco for good and prevent the harmful damage that arises with it.
What to do if You’re Dealing With Chewing Tobacco Stomach Pain
How do you deal with stomach pain instigated by chewing tobacco? Of course, the best first step is to quit chewing tobacco immediately, though there are other methods to help you stop and improve bodily functions to fend off damage caused by tobacco consumption. To find out what they are, keep reading!
Stop Dipping Immediately - Kick the Habit With Grinds
Kick the nasty habit of chewing tobacco and damaging your health with Grind’s tobacco & nicotine-free dip!
A healthy alternative to dip containing toxic chemicals like nicotine and tobacco, our flavorful chewing alternatives are made with natural ingredients and coffee to boost your day.
So say no to nagging cravings and addiction using our caffeine pouches like our Caramel and Peppermint flavors. Instead, start the day with the sharp, fresh zeal of Peppermint or the enticing sweetness of sweet Caramel without consuming nasty cancer-causing ingredients like nicotine and tobacco.
It is! Grind’s tobacco and nicotine-free dip are free of harmful ingredients. It's made from cinnamon, cloves, and honey that replicates the tobacco taste without damage. Our tobacco-free dip alternative is made with a fresh dosage of coffee to power you through the day. Then, it’s paired with a healthy inclusion of B vitamins to promote better health.
Consult Your Doctor to Determine if Serious Damage Has Occurred
It’s crucial to consult with your doctor to determine if any serious damage has occurred. If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort, it could be a sign of a preventable or severe concern that needs to be addressed.
Make Other Lifestyle Changes to Repair Your Stomach Lining & Gut Health
There are other lifestyle changes you can take to aid your body in repairing the stomach lining and improving gut health damaged by tobacco use.
Eating a nutrient-rich diet is one of the biggest benefactors in this healing journey. Vitamins and minerals can heal and fortify the gut while feeding good bacteria in the stomach. Good bacteria in the gut are essential as they work to fend off bad bacteria, support immune function, control inflammation, help digestion, and restore balance within the body.
When there are not enough good bacteria in the gut, numerous issues can be instigated as bad bacteria begin to thrive. Some of these symptoms of having minimal good bacteria in the gut include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), autoimmune problems, heartburn, type 1 diabetes, bloating, rheumatoid arthritis, and constipation.
Parting Thoughts on Chewing Tobacco and Stomach Problems
Chewing tobacco can have severe consequences, seriously damaging the stomach and raising the risks of stomach ulcers and cancer. In addition, quitting smokeless tobacco can be difficult as nicotine and tobacco are highly addictive, causing intense withdrawal symptoms when attempting to wean off using dip.
With Grinds tobacco and nicotine-free pouches, you can quit smokeless tobacco for good! Made with natural ingredients, the best flavors, and invigorating caffeine, our pouches pack a punch to help push those nagging cravings to the curb—no more damage to the stomach or your health with our healthy nicotine and tobacco-free alternatives.
Quit tobacco products for good with Grinds tobacco-free pouches built for the daily grind!