Smoking in ulcerative colitis
A much discussed issue in ulcerative colitis is smoking. In conclusion, it is not yet possible to say anything about the effect of smoking on Ulcerative colitis. While it is now known with certainty that smoking is a serious risk factor for the development of Crohn’s disease, another similar chronic inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, this has not yet been proven.
On the contrary, there are even studies that show that non-smokers and ex-smokers are more likely to develop the disease than active smokers. A cause for this could not be found so far. However, smoking is by no means indicated as a preventive measure, as it can lead to a considerable number of other diseases.
What influence does alcohol have on the disease?
In a recent study it was shown that 15-30% of all ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease patients suffer from severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain and flatulence after alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, just as with coffee, no general ban on alcohol can be imposed on CED sufferers. Here, too, every patient should test for themselves how well alcohol is tolerated. This applies at least to low-proof spirits like beer and wine. In contrast, high-proof alcohol such as schnapps should generally be avoided in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, as it can irritate the intestinal mucosa and thus trigger relapses.
What influence does coffee have on ulcerative colitis?
In ulcerative colitis, coffee can cause or aggravate symptoms such as flatulence, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Coffee can also trigger a relapse in some patients. However, the tolerance of certain foods varies from patient to patient, which is why some patients can drink coffee without any problems. There is therefore no general “ban” on coffee in ulcerative colitis. Instead, every patient should try out for himself whether and to what extent he can tolerate coffee.
What is the life expectancy in ulcerative colitis?
In general, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have only a very small or no negative influence on life expectancy. Those affected therefore generally live just as long as healthy people. This applies as long as the disease is treated by a specialist and the medication is correctly adjusted, otherwise serious and potentially fatal complications can occur. It is therefore important for those affected to take their own treatment seriously and take the prescribed medication as directed by the doctor.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – What are the similarities?
Both diseases belong to the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, or CED for short, a genus of systemic autoimmune diseases that manifest themselves primarily in the digestive tract. Accordingly, both diseases focus on the resulting symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain and flatulence. However, the exact localisation of the inflammatory process differs.
By definition, ulcerative colitis only affects the large intestine, and here the last sections are preferred. Only in very rare cases is it possible for the end of the small intestine to be affected. Furthermore, only the mucous membrane of the colon is affected by the inflammation.
Crohn’s disease, on the other hand, often manifests itself in the entire digestive tract, from the esophagus to the rectum. In addition, the entire intestinal wall is usually involved in the inflammatory process. The course of the disease is also very similar, because both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease progress in phases – i.e. phases of high disease activity alternate with phases of low to no disease activity.
Accordingly, the drug therapy is very similar. Both patients are mainly treated with aminosalicylates (e.g. mesalazine), cortisone preparations (e.g.
budesonide), immunomodulators (e.g. azathioprine) and biologicals (e.g. Infliximab). Neither of these diseases can be cured with medication, but ulcerative colitis can be cured by removing the entire colon.
