| Osteoporosis and other bone-density-related | | | | adolescents has not been proven, at least not until |
| problems affect everyone - men, women, young and | | | | now. |
| old. Although women and the elderly are more | | | | A recent study conducted by Swedish-based |
| susceptible in getting such diseases, men and the | | | | Gothenburg Osteoporosis and Obesity Determinants |
| younger generations are not immune to them. Figures | | | | has found that even the bone density of teens can |
| from the National Institute of Health, Osteoporosis | | | | be affected by first-hand smoke. Based on a test |
| and Related Bone Diseases-National Resource Center | | | | conducted on over 1,000 Swedish men aged 18 to |
| show that over two million men in America have | | | | 20, the bone density, particularly in the hip, spine and |
| been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Furthermore, it is | | | | body, of smokers in the group were significantly |
| estimated that about 80,000 men suffer from hip | | | | lower than others who were non-smokers. According |
| fractures every year and almost 33% of these men | | | | to the same study, mineral density in the hip of |
| die within 12 months after the injury. | | | | smokers in the group was 5% lower than those who |
| Scientists believe that smoking is one reason why | | | | do not have the habit of smoking. It is important to |
| there is an alarming rate of increase in people | | | | note that just a 10% decline in bone density already |
| affected by osteoporosis. Many used to believe that | | | | increases a person's risk of getting bone fracture |
| smoking only affects bone density of old people and | | | | twice. |
| women. However, studies conducted in Sweden and | | | | Second Hand Smoke Can Weaken Bones Too |
| China show the direct relationship between smoking | | | | Another research that confirms the relationship of |
| and weaker bones, regardless of age and gender. | | | | smoking and osteoporosis was done in China by the |
| What is osteoporosis? | | | | Harvard School of Public Health. This is the first |
| Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone condition that | | | | examination on the role of second hand smoke in the |
| makes a sufferer more vulnerable to bone fractures. | | | | development of osteoporosis or the declining bone |
| When you have osteoporosis, you may not be able | | | | density levels. |
| to perform certain tasks and other strenuous | | | | About 14,000 women and men in China participated in |
| activities for fear of getting a bone fracture. This is a | | | | the study. Since hip fracture is one of the leading |
| very serious disease because a significant percentage | | | | causes of bone-related mortality and morbidity not |
| of old people with osteoporosis that get major bone | | | | just in China but the rest of the world as well, the |
| fracture end up dead within a year or so, usually | | | | proponents of the study analyzed the mineral density |
| because of complications. | | | | of the hipbone of the participants. Results of the |
| The Link Between Smoking And Weak Bones | | | | study confirmed that premenopausal women who |
| It has been known for years that smoking can truly | | | | were exposed to second hand smoke were three |
| weaken bones of old people. Previous studies have | | | | times more likely to develop osteoporosis and 2.6 |
| shown that this habit is really one of the reasons for | | | | times more at risk at obtaining non-spine fracture in |
| the male gender's bone degeneration. However, the | | | | the future than women who were not smokers or |
| connection between low bone density and smoking in | | | | exposed to second hand smoke. |