How Does Smoking Affect IBD?


If you have IBD and are a smoker, you may wonder whether this has an effect on your disease.

The relationship between smoking and IBD is complex. Many studies have shown that people who smoke are more likely to develop CD, and research suggests that smoking increases the severity of the disease. In contrast, smoking appears to decrease the severity of UC, although it still carries many other health risks.

Additionally, those patients with longstanding, active IBD who smoke are at increased risk of developing cancer.

Research suggests that IBD patients may have higher "quit" rates than patients without IBD. The highest chances of quitting come from a combination of anti-smoking medication and counseling.

For more information on Smoking and IBD, please see the information sheet on our resources page.

Smoking and IBD Infographic

Resources to Help You Quit

Support Groups: QuitCore

Smoking Cessation Plan: AlbertaQuits

References