Did You Know Smoking Is Bad For Your Bones?
21/05/11 08:36
According to the most recent statistics from American Lung Association and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over 430,000 people die each year as a result of smoking-related diseases. According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoking leads to 87% of lung cancers, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Smoking is known to cause:
• Heart disease
• Lung cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Chronic lung disease
But there is one more thing: smoking is also bad for your bones!
Bones, like other tissues and organs of your body, get their nutrition from good blood flow. Normally, when a bone is injured (i.e. fractured), blood flow brings in the desperately needed nutrients to help heal the bone. Smokers tend to have an elevated level of nicotine in their blood, which constricts blood vessels. This leads to decreased blood flow, resulting in impaired delivery of oxygen and other nutrients.
Thus, when the bone of a smoker is injured, healing is compromised.
With the impaired nutrition to the bones, bone density becomes affected and this can also lead to osteoporosis.
Low Back Pain and Smoking
If you are a smoker and suffer from low back pain, you are not alone. The idea that smoking may be linked with low back pain has been around for quite some time. The key culprit here is nicotine, which limits blood flow throughout the body, including the spine. Chronic oxygen deprivation causes the discs to weaken. The result is malnourished and degenerated discs, which lead to pain. As a chronic smoker, the more you cough, the more you irritate the discs, which results in more low back pain.
If you are considering a fusion surgery, your doctor will ask you if you smoke. This is important because nicotine damages the “bone building cells”. In extreme cases, a surgeon may refuse to operate if the patient is a chronic smoker, since smoking slows down healing after spinal surgery.
Smoking is known to cause:
• Heart disease
• Lung cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Chronic lung disease
But there is one more thing: smoking is also bad for your bones!
Bones, like other tissues and organs of your body, get their nutrition from good blood flow. Normally, when a bone is injured (i.e. fractured), blood flow brings in the desperately needed nutrients to help heal the bone. Smokers tend to have an elevated level of nicotine in their blood, which constricts blood vessels. This leads to decreased blood flow, resulting in impaired delivery of oxygen and other nutrients.
Thus, when the bone of a smoker is injured, healing is compromised.
With the impaired nutrition to the bones, bone density becomes affected and this can also lead to osteoporosis.
Low Back Pain and Smoking
If you are a smoker and suffer from low back pain, you are not alone. The idea that smoking may be linked with low back pain has been around for quite some time. The key culprit here is nicotine, which limits blood flow throughout the body, including the spine. Chronic oxygen deprivation causes the discs to weaken. The result is malnourished and degenerated discs, which lead to pain. As a chronic smoker, the more you cough, the more you irritate the discs, which results in more low back pain.
If you are considering a fusion surgery, your doctor will ask you if you smoke. This is important because nicotine damages the “bone building cells”. In extreme cases, a surgeon may refuse to operate if the patient is a chronic smoker, since smoking slows down healing after spinal surgery.
0 Comments
Avascular Necrosis and the Elderly
23/03/11 16:48
From the Mayo Clinic:
Avascular necrosis is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Also called osteonecrosis, avascular necrosis can lead to tiny breaks in the bone and the bone's eventual collapse.
The blood flow to a section of bone can be interrupted if the bone is fractured or the joint becomes dislocated. Avascular necrosis is also associated with long-term use of high-dose steroid medications and excessive alcohol intake.
The most common joint affected by avascular necrosis is the hip. Avascular necrosis worsens with time, so managing it is a lifelong process.
Avascular necrosis typically causes pain and reduced range of motion in the affected joint. The most common joints affected by avascular necrosis include:
• Hip. In addition to pain in the hip joint itself, pain also may radiate into your groin or go down your thigh to your knee.
• Knee. In avascular necrosis of the knee, the pain occurs most often on the inside of the knee and worsens with activity.
• Shoulder. Several bones come together at the shoulder, but the one most commonly affected by avascular necrosis is the upper
arm bone.
Some people experience avascular necrosis bilaterally — for example, in both hips or in both knees. Signs and symptoms may appear suddenly if caused by an injury. In other cases, the pain and stiffness may build up slowly over several months. Some people with avascular necrosis experience no symptoms at all.
Other joints that are affected by avascular necrosis include:
• Ankles
• Feet
• Hands
• Jaw
• Spine
• Wrists
* See your doctor if you experience persistent pain in any joint. Seek immediate medical attention if you believe you have a broken bone or a dislocated joint.
*Original article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/avascular-necrosis/DS00650/DSECTION=symptoms
Avascular necrosis is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Also called osteonecrosis, avascular necrosis can lead to tiny breaks in the bone and the bone's eventual collapse.
The blood flow to a section of bone can be interrupted if the bone is fractured or the joint becomes dislocated. Avascular necrosis is also associated with long-term use of high-dose steroid medications and excessive alcohol intake.
The most common joint affected by avascular necrosis is the hip. Avascular necrosis worsens with time, so managing it is a lifelong process.
Avascular necrosis typically causes pain and reduced range of motion in the affected joint. The most common joints affected by avascular necrosis include:
• Hip. In addition to pain in the hip joint itself, pain also may radiate into your groin or go down your thigh to your knee.
• Knee. In avascular necrosis of the knee, the pain occurs most often on the inside of the knee and worsens with activity.
• Shoulder. Several bones come together at the shoulder, but the one most commonly affected by avascular necrosis is the upper
arm bone.
Some people experience avascular necrosis bilaterally — for example, in both hips or in both knees. Signs and symptoms may appear suddenly if caused by an injury. In other cases, the pain and stiffness may build up slowly over several months. Some people with avascular necrosis experience no symptoms at all.
Other joints that are affected by avascular necrosis include:
• Ankles
• Feet
• Hands
• Jaw
• Spine
• Wrists
* See your doctor if you experience persistent pain in any joint. Seek immediate medical attention if you believe you have a broken bone or a dislocated joint.
*Original article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/avascular-necrosis/DS00650/DSECTION=symptoms
Importance of Vitamins and Aging
03/02/11 10:24
There has been recent evidence that as one ages one needs different dietary and dietary supplements. This should not come as a surprise - we are not the same when we age as when we were once young. As we age, we tend to eat less (but that does not mean we won't gain weight - but, that's another topic). Eating less and the changes in our digestive system and skin all have effects on our vitamin levels. It had been estimated that almost one-third of elderly people have deficiencies in vitamins and important minerals.
What Changes Elderly Needs for Vitamins As mentioned above, older citizens tend to eat less and less balanced meals. This is a major cause for possible vitamin depletion. Also many medicines that one takes can change the absorption of vitamins. Some people develop gastritis or bowel changes that also adversely affect the absorption of vitamins. Vitamin D is dependent on exposure to sunshine (not a problem for most of us at Seabrook) and in someone is not out in the sun and coupled with the changes to everyone's skin as we age, sufficient vitamin D may not be made. For this reason the daily requirement for vitamin D is greater in elderly than younger people. Even people who take vitamin supplements may take the pill at night or in the morning without food, and most of the vitamins require fat in our diet to help get optimal absorption. The point here, is take your supplement with your biggest meal of the day.
Some Problems with Vitamin Deficiency Vitamin D is necessary for the health of our bones. If we have insufficient levels of vitamin D this can lead to brittle bones. It is important to also take a supplement of calcium to maintain bone density and help prevent osteoporosis in patients who are developing this with age. Vitamin B--12 is important in maintaining mental function. Vitamin B12 is found naturally in lean red meat, chicken and skim milk. Folate and vitamins B6 and B12 are required for homocysteine metabolism and have been shown to reduce heart disease if ingested in appropriate concentrations. The antioxidants potentially reduce the incidence of several chronic illnesses. The point is that vitamins are important in maintaining our health.
Original article: http://www.muschealth.com/healthyaging/vitamins.htm
What Changes Elderly Needs for Vitamins As mentioned above, older citizens tend to eat less and less balanced meals. This is a major cause for possible vitamin depletion. Also many medicines that one takes can change the absorption of vitamins. Some people develop gastritis or bowel changes that also adversely affect the absorption of vitamins. Vitamin D is dependent on exposure to sunshine (not a problem for most of us at Seabrook) and in someone is not out in the sun and coupled with the changes to everyone's skin as we age, sufficient vitamin D may not be made. For this reason the daily requirement for vitamin D is greater in elderly than younger people. Even people who take vitamin supplements may take the pill at night or in the morning without food, and most of the vitamins require fat in our diet to help get optimal absorption. The point here, is take your supplement with your biggest meal of the day.
Some Problems with Vitamin Deficiency Vitamin D is necessary for the health of our bones. If we have insufficient levels of vitamin D this can lead to brittle bones. It is important to also take a supplement of calcium to maintain bone density and help prevent osteoporosis in patients who are developing this with age. Vitamin B--12 is important in maintaining mental function. Vitamin B12 is found naturally in lean red meat, chicken and skim milk. Folate and vitamins B6 and B12 are required for homocysteine metabolism and have been shown to reduce heart disease if ingested in appropriate concentrations. The antioxidants potentially reduce the incidence of several chronic illnesses. The point is that vitamins are important in maintaining our health.
Original article: http://www.muschealth.com/healthyaging/vitamins.htm
Exercises For Strengthening Joints and Bones
13/11/10 08:57
Joint pain and arthritis are two common complaints for elders. Many medications claim to help ease these conditions, but there is an alternative. Exercise not only strengthens your bones and joints, it also keeps your heart and other parts of your body in tip top shape!
Here are some basic exercise moves to try:
1. Walking: This is the best way of stretching your body while burning calories. It’s a great cardio workout and it’s easy on your knees.
2. Riding a bike: While this exercise is a great calorie burner, it isn’t the best for people with knee problems. Bicycling can be a big strain on the knees so use caution if you have any knee pain.
3. Aerobics: This is one of the best exercise plans to prevent osteoporosis. Aerobics strengthens bones, whether it’s a step class or playing a game of basketball.
4. Dancing: Take a dance class if it’s something you enjoy! Not only will it burn mega calories, it will also help your joints and bones. Dancing provides full range of motion for the arms and legs. Your abdominal muscles will also benefit from this workout.
Here are some basic exercise moves to try:
1. Walking: This is the best way of stretching your body while burning calories. It’s a great cardio workout and it’s easy on your knees.
2. Riding a bike: While this exercise is a great calorie burner, it isn’t the best for people with knee problems. Bicycling can be a big strain on the knees so use caution if you have any knee pain.
3. Aerobics: This is one of the best exercise plans to prevent osteoporosis. Aerobics strengthens bones, whether it’s a step class or playing a game of basketball.
4. Dancing: Take a dance class if it’s something you enjoy! Not only will it burn mega calories, it will also help your joints and bones. Dancing provides full range of motion for the arms and legs. Your abdominal muscles will also benefit from this workout.