Register for Smoking Inhibits Estrogen, Fracture Healing, Bone Formation
Tobacco UseMarch 15, 2001
2001 MAR 15 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Smoking impairs the health of muscles, bones, and joints, orthopaedic surgeons report.
"It decreases people's ability to form bone, putting them at risk for osteoporosis. Nicotine also lessens the benefits of estrogen," said Scott E. Porter, MD, co-author of the study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Cigarette smoking accelerates the bone loss of osteporotic postmenopausal women, noted co-author Edward N. Hanley Jr., MD, chairman, department of orthopaedic surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina.
"Women who smoke have significantly less bone mass, which may be due in part to nicotine's inhibition of estrogen," said Hanley. "Male smokers also are at increased risk of developing osteoporosis because smoking affects the production of bone cells."
For the study, the two orthopaedic surgeons conducted a literature review of scientific data on the relationship between smoking and musculoskeletal disease ("The musculoskeletal effects of smoking," J Amer Acad Orthopaed Surg, 2001).
Each year, more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. can be attributed to smoking. "The effects of smoking on a person's cardiovascular health are well documented," said Porter. And of course, tobacco is linked to numerous cancers, as well. "What many smokers may not realize is that smoking also has a negative impact on musculoskeletal health," he said, noting that many people experiencing low back pain are smokers. "It is possible that heart disease, caused by smoking, can initiate low back pain symptoms because the lumbar discs may be malnourished from the lack of adequate blood supply."
Smoking may also be an indicator of poor health and lifestyle, which contribute to the development of low back pain. The article also reported that smoking is associated with bone loss, hip fractures, and decreased ability for bones and wounds to heal.
"Several studies showed that smokers who have wounds or surgical incisions often take longer to heal than non-smokers," said Hanley, explaining that smokers' tissues do not get enough oxygen to fully repair themselves. "As a result, it is more difficult for smokers to recover from breaking a bone. Cigarette smoking also slows the healing after orthopaedic surgical procedures. For example, it specifically decreases the rate of both healing and success after spinal fusion. This has huge economic impact."
"The risks and complications associated with smoking should be discussed with people who are receiving orthopaedic treatment," said Porter, the Harry Winkler Jr. orthopaedic surgery research fellow, department of orthopaedic surgery, Carolinas Medical Center. He urged patients to give a complete smoking history to their doctors.
This article was prepared by Women's Health Weekly editors from staff and other reports.
©Copyright 2000, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net
