It’s no secret that puffing cigarettes is the culprit behind a whole host of ailments, including respiratory diseases and cancers of the lungs and throat.
Now scientists from the University of Nevada found that men smokers—who, demographically, are more likely than women to light up—are also placing themselves at a much higher risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures, and early death.
The research is published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports and was conducted by Qing Wu et al.
In the study, the team analyzed nearly 30,000 broken bone cases reported over the past three decades in 27 research publications.
They found that smoking increases the risk of breaking a bone by as much as 37%.
They found that smoking increases the chance of spine and hip fractures in men to 32% and 40%, respectively.
And, the studies found that between 21% and 37% of those injured male smokers die within a year of their bone breaks.
The team says smoking is a major risk factor for osteoporosis and risk of fracture.
Men tend to smoke more than women, increasing their risk for osteoporosis, which has traditionally been thought of as a women’s disease.
Cigarettes’ influence on fracture risk isn’t fully understood.
But smoking is thought to increase the risk of skeletal fractures because the chemicals in cigarettes negatively impact bone cells and reduce the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin D and calcium—critical nutrients for strong bone mineral density.
Additionally, he said, smoking is considered a risk factor for injury in general because there is evidence that nicotine interferes with the tissue repair process, making the body more susceptible to wounds and inhibiting fracture healing.
As medical advancements contribute to an ever-aging population, researchers call on consumers to pay attention to the link between smoking and osteoporotic fractures, which are a major cause of disability and early death for older people.
If you care about falls, please read studies about how to take the right steps to prevent falls, and simple tips to keep you on your feet.
For more information about wellness, please see recent studies about exercise that could slow down bone aging, and results showing drinking too much coffee may damage your bone health.
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