Crohn's and Smoking

According to this article that was just released  people former smokers have a higher risk of developing either Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis as opposed to people who don’t smoke. I have never smoked a cigarette in my entire life and have never drank alcohol, or even soda. Female smokers were 90% more likely to develop Crohn’s and ex-smokers. The longer women smoked the more years had a higher chance of getting Crohn’s disease. What is interesting is that even when people stopped smoking they had a 50% higher risk of getting ulcerative colitis than those who continued to smoked.

No doubt smoking is a waste of time, money, and air. Some of factors for Crohn’s disease like smoking, genetics, and being Jewish are interesting yet I have none of these. No one in my family has ever had inflammatory bowel disease or any other type of gastrointestinal issue. My mother and sister have a mild case of acid reflux and take Nexium however I have (and hope never to develop this).  

Hopefully, researchers can study what irritants in cigarettes create inflammation and maybe find ways to prevent it to help Crohn’s patients. Until then we should all stop from lighting up!