Can Smoking Damage your Bone Health?

Smoking cigarettes has long been known to have detrimental effects on the physical body.But, recent researches has also shown that smoking cigarettes has significant effects on the bone health too.

Several research studies have identified smoking as one of the major risk factors for osteoporosis and bone fracture. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones weaken and are more likely to fracture (break). Fractures from osteoporosis can result in pain, disability, and sometimes death.

How smoking affects bone health?

Why are bones affected by smoking?

Bones are nourished by blood like the other organs and tissues in the body. Bones get all the nutrients, minerals, and oxygen through the blood stream. Smoking elevates the levels of nicotine in the blood and this causes the blood vessels to constrict. Nicotine constricts blood vessels approximately 25% of their normal diameter. Due to this constriction of the vessels, decreased levels of nutrients are supplied to the bones. In this way smoking affects bone health.

One Response to “Can Smoking Damage your Bone Health?”

  1. Frankie Says:
    December 18th, 2007 at 1:25 am

    I just had cervical spine fusion. I am sick of the morphine and norco (vicodin). Marijuana helps. But I keep reading that smoke (tobacco) interferes with bone growth and bone healing. Nicotine consticts the blood vessels, decreasing, oxygenation, remineralization and healing of the bone. But marijuana contains no nicotine… Does the smoke itself reduce blood supply to the bones, or is it the nicotine only? In short, can I smoke mj as pain relief after this spinal surgery??

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