Smoking increases a person's chances of developing Crohn's disease, and it makes the disease worse. Smokers with Crohn's disease feel sicker than nonsmokers do, and they need to take more medicine to treat their illness. If Crohn's disease gets very serious, it may need to be treated with surgery. Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to need this kind of surgery because their illness tends to be worse than that of nonsmokers.
definition
Crohn's disease is a disease of the small and large intestines. It can cause the intestines to become inflamed (red and swollen), resulting in pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and bleeding inside the intestines. Crohn's disease is a chronic (long-lasting) problem; it may stick around for years, or it may go away and come back over and over again. It is not a contagious disease, but it can be a serious one. It can occur in children and teenagers, as well as adults.
quitting
. Fortunately, though, if a person with Crohn's disease quits smoking, the disease is likely to become less severe.
