Smoking And Osteoporosis

If you smoke, you have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, also known as brittle bones. Osteoporosis is most commonly found in women aged over the age of 50 years old; however, smoking damages the bone tissue at all ages and it can affect the development and regeneration of the bones. If you smoke as a teenager, this may prevent the bones from developing normally and they may lack density and strength. Smoking is also particularly damaging for women once they start to reach smoking and go through perismoking (the stage before smoking); at this stage, levels of oestrogen fall and this affects bone density. If you smoke, you lose bone mass at a faster rate and the risk of osteoporosis increases.

Signs of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis can be difficult to diagnose because there may be no clear symptoms; often, osteoporosis is only diagnosed once an injury, such as a fracture, has occurred. If you have osteoporosis, you have a higher risk of bone damage and you may suffer injuries from even the most innocuous looking fall or trip. As well as an increased risk of fractures, osteoporosis may also cause aches and pains and in severe cases, there may be some curvature of the spine. 


The benefits of giving up smoking

If you give up smoking, this will help to prevent damage to your bones and this is particularly true for young people and pre and post-menopausal women. You can also help to boost bone strength by exercising regularly and ensuring you hit your daily intake of calcium; good sources of calcium include milk, yoghurts, cheese, leafy green vegetables and pulses. 


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