Healthy Living
Smoking cessation:
Smoking can make your inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) worse. Patients who smoke are more likely to have flares and require medications as well as surgery to treat their IBD. Quitting smoking can improve the overall health of your digestive system.
Antibiotics:
Antibiotics are necessary to treat bacterial infections, although frequent use can cause complications. Antibiotics can deplete the good bacteria in your digestive tract. By taking antibiotics, patients can increase their risk of getting an infection called Clostridium Difficile or C. Diff. C. Diff can cause frequent watery, foul smelling stools. Contact your physician if you experience these symptoms while taking, or after you complete, a course of antibiotics.
Support Groups:
Joining a support group may be beneficial, see the Resource Information tab.
