7 Ways to Live Happier and Healthier if You Have Crohn’s Disease
Crohn's DiseaseTaking Control of Crohn’s

7 Ways to Live Happier and Healthier if You Have Crohn’s Disease

7 Ways to Live Happier and Healthier if You Have Crohn’s Disease
Everyday Health
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Updated on March 2, 2026
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Medications can help control the symptoms of Crohn’s disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but effective treatment goes beyond what your doctor prescribes. To truly live well, you’ll need to take a look at every aspect of your life.

Here are seven ways to be as healthy and happy as possible with Crohn’s disease.

1. Don’t Smoke

“Smoking makes Crohn’s disease much worse,” says Miguel Regueiro, MD, chief of the digestive disease institute at Cleveland Clinic. “If you have Crohn’s disease and are a smoker, you must quit.”

Research has found that people who smoke tend to have more severe Crohn’s disease and more complications, such as strictures, and a higher risk of surgeries than nonsmokers. Smoking has also been connected to having more flares and requiring more treatment using steroids, immunosuppressants, and other medications. And research has confirmed that smokers are more likely to be diagnosed with Crohn’s in the first place.

2. Drink in Moderation or Not at All

Alcohol can irritate the lining of your intestinal tract and make Crohn’s symptoms worse, according to research. It can disrupt the microbiome’s balance and injure the intestinal barrier, leading to inflammation and flares, note the authors of one research review. Alcohol may also interfere with medications you’re taking, so check with your doctor to see if it’s safe to drink at all. Even if you find that you can tolerate alcohol, it’s important to limit how much you drink.

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3. Exercise Regularly

Both aerobic activity and resistance training can contribute to Crohn’s disease management. In fact, one study found that participants with Crohn’s disease who had a higher level of physical activity had lower disease activity.

Working out not only helps your digestive tract work more efficiently, Dr. Regueiro says, but can also reduce stress because of the release of endorphins, or feel-good hormones, that comes with getting your blood pumping. Weight-bearing exercise can also help prevent osteopenia (loss of bone density) and osteoporosis (a disease that further weakens the bones), common complications of Crohn’s disease. To stay motivated, choose an exercise you enjoy.

4. Practice Relaxation Techniques

While some experts believe that extreme stress may trigger Crohn’s disease in certain vulnerable people, it’s not considered a proven cause. Stress is known to aggravate the illness, however.

Stress can worsen gut inflammation and disrupt the balance of bacteria in the microbiome, and the hormones involved in the stress response can further increase the inflammation in your gut, leading to worse symptoms more often. Try slow breathing, yoga, tai chi, meditation, or something else you find relaxing to reduce the impact of stress on your body.

Do what works for you, says John Nesco, who was diagnosed at age 15 and was a volunteer group facilitator and member of the Connecticut board of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. It could just be reading a book in a quiet place, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with friends and family. “The important thing is that it’s something you consistently want to do and that you get relaxation from it,” he says.

Doing activities that incorporate mindfulness — meditation, yoga, tai chi, breath work — can bring feelings of happiness, peace, and joy, according to research.

 And the activity doesn’t have to be a traditional mindfulness practice. Anything that gets you focused on being in the present, like sketching a still life, knitting, or even everyday tasks like folding laundry, can get you out of your head and into the direct experience of living in the moment.

5. Get Enough Sleep

When you’re sleeping poorly, you’re more likely to have trouble handling stress, which can worsen your symptoms. You’ll sleep better at night if you stick to a routine, with a set time for getting up and going to bed — it should be the same on weekdays and weekends. Be sure to give yourself enough time to wind down before bed so you can focus on sleep and not on distractions.

 In research, poor sleep has been associated with higher rates of flares in people with IBD.

6. Seek Support

Find Crohn’s support groups that meet online or face-to-face near where you live or work. “People who join support groups tend to have the same reaction,” Nesco says. “They hadn’t met anyone else with the same disease and can’t believe how similar their experiences are. Having supportive friends and family is great, but their level of understanding only goes so far. People who face the same challenges can share stories of best practices as well as triumphs. This can go a long way in terms of motivation and outlook.”

You can find local and online support groups via the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, which offers options for a number of communities, or on social media sites like Facebook and Reddit.

Maintaining social connections is crucial and not just as a way to bring joy and happiness to your life. According to research, it’s also one of the most reliable predictors of living a long, healthy life.

7. Communicate What You Feel Is Appropriate

Everyone handles Crohn’s disease differently, and you should decide for yourself whom to tell and when, Nesco says. Keep it simple with something like, “I just want you to know I have a digestive disorder that affects what I can eat.” If you get too technical, he says, you may lose people in the details. On the other hand, choosing to be open with people you trust can be empowering and lessen any shame or self-consciousness you may feel.

The Takeaway

  • Medical treatment can help control Crohn’s disease, but focusing on other factors that affect your illness can help ensure that you live your happiest, healthiest life.
  • Certain lifestyle choices can improve your chances of avoiding symptoms, flares, or complications, such as not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation or not at all, regularly getting exercise, and controlling stress.
  • Finding support in the inflammatory bowel disease community and communicating with others about Crohn’s in a way you’re comfortable with can also go a long way in helping you live with the condition in a manageable way.

Additional reporting by Ashley Welch.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Smoking or Vaping With Crohn’s or Colitis. Crohn’s & Colitis UK. April 2025.
  2. Piovezani Ramos G et al. Alcohol Use in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. May 2021.
  3. Lamers CR et al. Patient Experiences With the Role of Physical Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results From a Survey and Interviews. BMC Gastroenterology. April 14, 2021.
  4. 5 Exercises to Get Your Gut Moving. Hartford HealthCare St. Vincent’s Medical Center. May 30, 2025.
  5. Exercise and Stress: Get Moving to Manage Stress. Mayo Clinic. September 19, 2025.
  6. Exercises for Osteoporosis. Healthy Bones Australia. November 27, 2023.
  7. Osso M et al. Stress and IBD: Breaking the Vicious Cycle. Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. August 7, 2024.
  8. Deshmukh VD. The Electroencephalographic Brainwave Spectrum, Mindful Meditation, and Awareness. International Journal of Yoga. January-April 2023.
  9. Mindfulness Tips for College Students: Simple Ways to Be Present. University of Colorado Boulder. October 16, 2025.
  10. Thurrott S. How Sleep Affects Stress: What You Should Know. Banner Health. June 24, 2025.
  11. Koppelman LJM et al. Modifiable Factors Influencing Disease Flares in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Overview of Lifestyle, Psychological, and Environmental Risk Factors. Journal of Clinical Medicine. March 27, 2025.
  12. Abrams Z. The Science of Why Friendships Keep us Healthy. American Psychological Association. June 1, 2023.
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Yuying Luo, MD

Medical Reviewer

Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.

Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.

She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.

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Beth W. Orenstein

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Beth W. Orenstein is a freelance writer for HealthDay, Radiology Today, the Living Well section of The American Legion Magazine, St. Luke’s University Health Network, and others. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Tufts University (1978), where she majored in English and was editor of the student newspaper for three years.

No matter the weather around her eastern Pennsylvania home, Orenstein either bikes 25 to 30 miles or walks at least 6 miles every day. Her one indulgence is blueberry pancakes — but only after biking a long distance.

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