Q I can't quit smoking or coffee — do I really have to give them up with chronic gastritis?
A Smoking damages the stomach lining and raises the risk of stomach cancer, so quitting is strongly recommended. Coffee also increases stomach acid and can be irritating. Even cutting back — without quitting entirely — can reduce the burden on the mucosa.
Detailed Answer
Smoking is known to impair the healing of the stomach lining and raise the risk of gastric cancer, so quitting is especially important for those with chronic gastritis. Coffee can increase gastric acid secretion and worsen epigastric discomfort and heartburn. If it's hard to quit all at once, small steps — such as avoiding coffee on an empty stomach and reducing the number of cigarettes — are a good place to start.
Traditional Korean Medicine Perspective
Oriental medicine treatment focuses on building a robust digestive environment that reacts less sensitively to the same stimuli. During treatment, we help you gradually cut back by working through what's easiest to change first.
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