What should patients with Crohn's disease avoid?
1. Smoking
Smoking has been shown not only to increase the risk for Crohn's disease but also worsen the course of Crohn's disease. Smokers may be less responsive to certain treatments and are more likely to develop a recurrence of Crohn's disease after surgery.
Quitting smoking is one of the best things a patient with Crohn's disease can do to avoid exacerbating their condition.
2. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
Studies have suggested that NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can cause flares of IBD in approximately 25% of patients. These flares tend to occur within one week of starting regular use of the drug. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and aspirin appear to be safe. Celebrex (celecoxib) is a specific type of NSAID called a cox-2 inhibitor that appears to be safe, at least in short-term studies of patients in remission and on medicine for their Crohn's disease.