Jeff Hordley chron disaes

Jeff Hordley Crohn’s Disease: Emmerdale actor who plays Cain Dingle on the ITV show has battled the inflammatory bowel disease since 1996 – everything you need to know about the condition
THE Emmerdale actor who plays Cain Dingle in the ITV soap has been open about his Crohn’s Disease.

Jeff Hordley – who plays Cain Dingle in Emmerdale – has been living with Crohn’s Disease since his diagnosis of the inflammatory bowel disease in 1996.

The 48 year old was diagnosed with the condition when he was just 25 years old after suffering from stomach cramps and diarrhoea for six years.

Crohn’s Disease is thought to affect at least 115,000 people in the UK, including The Mummy Diaries star Sam Faiers and Rylan Clark-Neal’s mum, both of whom are ambassadors for Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

Here’s everything you need to know about Crohn’s Disease…

What is Crohn's disease and what are the signs?

Affecting any part of the digestive tube that runs from your mouth to your bottom, the symptoms can include mouth ulcers, stomach pain, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Jeff told ES of his own symptoms: "As well as the diarrhoea and cramps I’d have episodes of horrendous stomach pains and vomiting. I dropped from 12 stone to nine – which is a lot when you’re nearly six foot – and I was really thin and pale."

How do you treat Crohn's disease?

After diagnosis, the course runs differently for everyone. Crohn’s isn’t curable but is managed and sufferers often go into remission, sometimes for years.

Initially medication is used to try and get the symptoms under control and calm down the inflammation in the digestive tract. This can include steroids and drugs to suppress the immune system.

Jeff has previously revealed he had surgery to remove the diseased part of the large bowel and to allow his "gut to heal".

Speaking about changes to his own diet, Jeff has previously explained how he’s adapted his eating habits.

What's the diet for someone with Crohn's disease?

There is no set diet that has been shown to improve Crohn’s but sufferers are advised to avoid those foods/drinks which irritate symptoms.

Speaking about changes to his own diet, Jeff has previously explained how he’s adapted his eating habits.

He told ES: "A nutritionist put me on a strict detox diet for two months – no alcohol, sugar, meat, wheat or dairy.

"It was tough but it worked. Zoe and I stopped eating processed foods, got an allotment, and cooked everything from scratch."

Crohn's disease in the long term

Long term it is often possible to wean off most drugs but sometimes the symptoms may flare and medication may be needed again for some time.

For some people whose symptoms are more difficult to control, surgery to remove sections of the digestive tract may be needed.

Crohn’s is an important disease that needs treatment and control. If you have any of the symptoms described, see your GP.

Some simple tests could catch it early and get you on the road to recovery as soon as possible.

More information can be found on nhs.uk/conditions/crohns-disease/

Follow Dr Renee Hoenderkamp on Twitter @drhoenderkamp.