Smoking Poll

Yes, there is a strong connection between quitting smoking and UC.

There have been many studies done showing this, as well as increased remission rate when nicotine replacement (usually using transdermal patches) is added to traditional therapies.

Started smoking heavily in 1976.
Quit many times and the last time took in 1994
Diagnosed with UC in 2009(age 49)

I smoked mostly cigarettes but would use other types of tobacco (pipe, chew, dip, cigars...) to stop the cigs because I smoked way too much. I quit the last time with patches but never finished the full treatment. I am convinced I would be dead if I hadn't quit and still think I will die of a smoking related problem. The price of smokes was a major factor as was the social stigma in getting me to quit but health was the major reason.

I'm an ex smoker. Smoked for 10 years (on and off towards the end). Quit for good 10 years ago in Feb 2003 and was Dx'ed a few months later. I definitely believe there is a connection and that smoking was delaying the inevitable.

Old Mike,

I wanted to share this with everyone and particularly you.

This may or may not be the smoking gun for colitis and tobacco but I have no doubt it will be the reason for some of you. I've not seen this mentioned before either so worth a good look.

For 17 years I’ve been through this stopping then having to start again, I didnt want the meds route. Well they just found a heavy bloodsucking hookworm infestation. Yet again I had a poor prep but they were actually seen in my colon (never before obviously). My GI has stated this is the likely cause of my IBD problems. I also know 100% they have been there all along and I can explain in more detail if anyone is interested. When you search this subject you quickly realise tobacco effectively controls many parasites. It does not kill them off entirely but they will die off considerably.

Think you don’t have parasites? Most people do in fact. If you were in a 3rd world country they would suspect it but not in the clean industrial world. Parasites are rarely seen because they reside in the small intestine. Colonoscopy and endoscopy fails to reach them, even a specific stool test will likely be negative. The only thing that will usually see them is pillcam and who's had one of those? I know its small intestine and we all have proctitis or inflammation in the sygmoid to begin with but trust me. It will affect distal areas.

Smoking reduces Th2, which increases the chance of infestation, hookworm increases Th2 which could well remain balanced, until you quit. UC is widely reported as a Th2 related disease.

Interestingly, parasites love sugar which is also a bit of a no no for us. So if sugar increases your symptoms and smoking reduces them maybe you could try a parasite cleanse? EVOO also has anti parasite properties so it may also explain some of those benefits.