Crohn’s disease can cause various health problems to a non-smoker, but smokers with Crohn’s will face more severe forms of the disease with more frequent flare-ups. Smoking may decrease blood flow to the intestines and can also trigger a response in the immune system. Smokers will often find it difficult to get better with medication and many times will get worse after surgeries that remove parts of the infected intestines.
Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk of developing the disease. Smoking can lead to serious consequences when it comes to the digestive tract. The digestive tract is essential for converting food into nutrients that are essential for survival. Smokers are at a greater risk for developing fistula and abscesses. Crohn’s patients may get well, but this is usually only temporary. The chances of the disease returning are increased by 50 to 100% if you smoke. Hence, the more you smoke the higher your chances are for it to come back again.
Not only do smoker’s need more intense immunosuppressive therapy, but the chance that they will need surgery is almost double that of nonsmokers. A study of 500 smokers with Crohn’s was conducted and they were all counseled to stop smoking. Only a small percentage (12%) of patients quit smoking for more than a year. Two years after the program was complete there was a study of the smokers and the nonsmokers.
Research found that upon being evaluated two years after the program that those who quit smoking had 65% less pain flare-ups that the continued smokers. Upon comparing the group of Crohn’s patients who quit smoking with some patients who had never smoked before researchers found that the group had a similar number of disease related flare-ups.
What does all this research mean? The research concludes that Crohn’s patients who smoke should seriously consider quitting, if they want to help alleviate the painful problems this disease causes. Based on this study, it’s also safe to assume that those patients who currently do smoke are not a lost cause. Even though you did smoke, it’s suggested that smokers who quit smoking for more than a year will lower the severity of the disease and most will experience the same symptoms than those who have never smoked before.
