Researchers say people with a digestive condition shouldn't smoke

1/30/2012

Nurse practitioners at onsite clinics can help workers who may experience a chronic disease manage their illness without having to take multiple days off and hurt their productivity. For example, some employees may have Barrett's esophagus (BE), which is a chronic condition that affects the tissue lining the esophagus and is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a severe form of heartburn.

At an onsite clinic, a person with this condition could get her medication and advice on how to quit smoking if she is addicted to cigarettes. This is particularly important, considering that recent research published in the journal Gastroenterology has found that people who use tobacco while having this disease are twice as likely to develop cancer.

"Tobacco smoking has been long established as highly carcinogenic," said lead researcher Helen Coleman, Ph.D,. "Barrett's esophagus patients who smoke should start a cessation program immediately."

Of course, it's not always easy to start a smoking cessation program. Luckily, individuals who are part of an employee wellness program have all the tools they need to quit their habit. 

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