Non-smokers are three times more likely to have ulcerative colitis than smokers, but the reasons for this are unclear. Nicotine patches or gum may be used to treat the condition, but smoking should never be recommended. Ulcerative colitis is caused by inflammation of the colon and its causes are not fully understood. Nicotine may suppress the immune system and increase mucus production, but it also increases the risk of cancer and is highly addictive. Consult a doctor before using nicotine therapy for ulcerative colitis.
The effect of smoking on ulcerative colitis is the subject of ongoing scientific research. It has been established that non-smokers are much more likely to have ulcerative colitis than smokers, at a rate that is about three times higher for non-smokers. The reasons for this are unclear and may involve different pathways. Speculative current treatments and future treatments that may become more established may involve the use of nicotine patches or gum to treat ulcerative colitis. But using nicotine as a treatment is less than ideal, and smoking should never be recommended as a way to treat any condition, disease or symptom.
Ulcerative colitis is usually classified as a type of inflammatory bowel disease in which the lining of the large intestine becomes inflamed. The term colitis specifically refers to inflammation of the colon or large intestine, including the rectum. Ulcers in this case are sores on the lining of the colon. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools, among others.
The causes of ulcerative colitis are not fully understood, making it difficult to define the specific effects of smoking on ulcerative colitis. Colitis can result from infections or environmental irritants, but it can also occur without an obvious cause. It is also thought to occur from abnormal immune responses to beneficial bacteria that normally inhabit the colon. These potential causes have given rise to possible reasons for the positive effect of smoking on ulcerative colitis.
The beneficial effect of smoking on ulcerative colitis may result from a suppressed immune system. If uclerative colitis is caused by an overactive immune system, it would make intuitive sense that suppressing the immune system would reduce colitis symptoms. Nicotine, found in cigarettes, also appears to increase mucus production in the colon, which would offer another benefit by strengthening this protective lining. Nicotine can also reduce the production of certain chemicals responsible for inflammation.
Various studies have found conflicting evidence for patients assigned a nicotine patch to treat colitis. Some experts have recommended trying a nicotine patch in combination with traditional treatments such as drugs that suppress the immune system or reduce inflammation. Smoking is never recommended as a treatment, but the side effects of nicotine patches may be reduced in some cases by using nicotine gum. However, nicotine increases the risk of some cancers, impairs healing, and is itself highly addictive. For these reasons, consult a doctor about nicotine therapy for ulcerative colitis first.
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