Ulcerative Colitis
Healthy Lifestyle Tips
For unknown reasons, smokers have a lower risk of UC. The nicotine patch has actually been used to induce remissions in people with UC,61 although this treatment has been ineffective in preventing relapses.62 On the other hand, Crohn’s disease, which is in many ways similar to UC, is made worse by smoking.63 Despite the possible protective effect of smoking in people with UC, a strong case can be made that risks of smoking outweigh the benefits; even the use of nicotine patches carries its own side effects and remains experimental.