Osteoporosis and Your Cigarettes

Many of the health problems caused by tobacco use are well known. Cigarette smoking causes heart disease, lung and esophageal cancer, and chronic lung disease. Additionally, several research studies have identified smoking as a risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fracture.

Cigarette smoking was first identified as a risk factor for osteoporosis more than 20 years ago. Recent studies have shown a direct relationship between tobacco use and decreased bone density.

Analyzing the impact of cigarette smoking on bone health is complicated. It is hard to determine whether a decrease in bone density is due to smoking itself or to other risk factors common among smokers.

For example, in many cases smokers are thinner than nonsmokers, tend to drink more alcohol, may be less physically active, and have poor diets.

Women who smoke also tend to have an earlier menopause than nonsmokers. These factors place many smokers at an increased risk for osteoporosis apart from their tobacco use(1).

In addition, most studies on the effects of smoking suggest that smoking increases the risk of having a fracture. Not all studies support these findings, but the evidence is mounting. For example:

• The longer you smoke and the more cigarettes you consume, the greater your risk of fracture in old age.
• Smokers who fracture may take longer to heal than nonsmokers and may experience more complications during the healing process.
• Significant bone loss has been found in older women and men who smoke.
• At least one study suggests that exposure to secondhand smoke during youth and early adulthood may increase the risk of developing low bone mass.
• Compared with nonsmokers, women who smoke often produce less estrogen (a sex hormone) and tend to experience menopause earlier, which may lead to increased bone loss.
• Quitting smoking appears to reduce the risk of low bone mass and fractures. However, it may take several years to lower a former smoker’s risk. CLICK HERE for more info on quitting

Osteoporosis can often be prevented. It is known as a “silent” disease because, if undetected, bone loss can progress for many years without symptoms until a fracture occurs. It has been called a childhood disease with old age consequences because building healthy bones in youth helps prevent osteoporosis and fractures later in life. However, it is never too late to adopt new habits for healthy bones.

Remember, gentlemen and ladies, Thursday 3 June 2010, 11am to 2pm, FREE bone density screening at K. H. Hoe Pharmacal (see address at the side bar)

1. NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center

Picture credit