World No Tobacco Day: How does it affect your muscles and bones?

Every year on May 31st, the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates World No Tobacco Day. This commemoration aims to inform the public about the dangers of tobacco use, the tobacco industry’s marketing practices, the WHO’s efforts to combat the tobacco epidemic, and all the actions we can take to uphold the right to health and a healthier life. 

This year’s campaign aims to highlight the growing and harmful effects of tobacco companies on the environment, which unnecessarily exacerbate resource scarcity and the fragility of ecosystems. Each year , more than 8 million people die from tobacco-related causes, while it also negatively impacts the musculoskeletal systems of millions of consumers.

Smoking and leg muscles

Regular tobacco use causes direct damage to the muscles, especially those in the legs, by reducing the number of blood vessels, and consequently, the arrival of nutrients and oxygen to this part of the body. 

A study conducted by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) , in the United States, in conjunction with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro , in Brazil, and Kochi University , in Japan, revealed that smoke reduces the capillarity of muscle cells, causing impaired mitochondrial function that affects the cycle of muscle contractions, producing much faster fatigue. 

A lack of nutrients and oxygen can directly impact metabolism and activity levels, both risk factors for hundreds of chronic diseases.

Effects of smoking on skeletal health

All tissues in the human body are affected by tobacco use, but many effects are reversible. Scientific studies have demonstrated links between tobacco use and diseases that affect bone health:

1. Smoking increases the likelihood of hip fracture in older adults by 30%-40%, caused by osteoporosis .
2. Tobacco use reduces the amount of oxygen reaching our bones.
3. Nicotine slows down the production of osteoblasts, the cells responsible for forming bones.
4. Smoking decreases the absorption of calcium in our bones, a vital component for bone mineralization.
5. Tobacco breaks down estrogen in our body, the most important component for building and maintaining a strong skeleton.

Other musculoskeletal tissues affected by tobacco

Smoking also affects other tissues that are part of the musculoskeletal system, often leading to an increased risk of injuries and diseases:

1. The rupture of the “rotator cuff” (shoulder) in smokers is almost twice as large, due to the quality of these tendons.
2. Smokers are 1.5 times more likely to suffer overuse injuries, such as bursitis or tendinitis.
3. Greater possibility of suffering traumatic injuries, such as sprains or fractures.
4. Higher risk of lower back pain and rheumatoid arthritis.
5. Fractures in smokers take longer to heal, due to the negative effects of nicotine on the production of bone-forming cells.
6. Reduced blood flow to tissues causes smokers to have a higher rate of complications after surgery, due to poor wound healing and infections.

At Citsalud, we are constantly committed to caring for your body and your health. That’s why, on this World No Tobacco Day, we urge everyone to avoid using this substance, which pollutes the planet and harms the health of all people throughout its life cycle. Say NO to tobacco!