Alcohol and cigarettes – bad to the bone
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Moderate your alcohol intake and stop smoking. Alcohol and tobacco both aggravate bone loss.
Cigarette smoking was identified as a risk factor for osteoporosis more than 20 years ago. Recent studies have shown a direct relationship between tobacco and decreased bone density.
Alcohol can inhibit the formation of new bone cells called osteoblasts, thereby decreasing bone formation.
Chronic and heavy alcohol consumption contributes to low bone density, decreased bone formation, more fractures and slower fracture healing.
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It is important to get your bones checked to see what, if any, damage has been done. Any damaged can be rectified with life style changes and/or medication. A bone density scan is required to measure what damage has been done. The earlier this is picked up the easier it is to rectify.
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