The actor - who plays Cain Dingle - has opened up about the moment he was diagnosed with the same illness that killed his mother
Emmerdale star Jeff Hordley, 44, had been suffering extreme stomach cramps and diarrhoea for years, but had always put the symptoms down to Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
But, over time, his symptoms worsened - and he eventually realised that something was seriously wrong.
Speaking with The Mirror, he said: "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."
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After several hospital tests, doctors revealed what Jeff had always feared; he had Crohn's Disease.
The very same disease that had caused his mother's death in 1979.
He explained: "When I was just nine, my mum had died from the very same illness. My reaction was, ‘Am I going to die too?’"
But, thankfully, doctors reassured Jeff that her death had been caused by complications in surgery - and that medical advancements meant that his condition could be more easily treated.
After an operation, Jeff was put on medication to help prevent damage and, for seven years, he was absolutely fine
But, in 2002, he collapsed at a theatre, haemorrhaging blood from his back passage.
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Thankfully the relapse was handled expertly, and Jeff was able to go home - but, in a bid to prevent it happening again in the future, he stopped smoking, cut down on alcohol, and cut processed foods from his diet.
Nowadays he is happy and healthy, married to Zoe Henry (also in Emmerdale) and the proud father of two children.
He is now an ambassador for Crohn's and Colitis UK, and hopes that, by sharing his story, he will encourage other sufferers to talk about their diagnosis.
He said simply: "Talk about it to your friends, loved ones and family. Bowels are a taboo subject but we need to get over embarrassment.
"I’ve been suffering for most of my life so I’m quite happy talking about bowels and using the word 'poo'!"
This article first appeared on Closer online on the 12th February 2015.