Calcium and Smoking
Calcium constitutes only two percent of the human body, but it is vitally important in many body functions, and it is essential in healthy teeth and bones. Smoking is directly related to problems with calcium levels in the body due strictly to the cadmium content in cigarette smoke. Cadmium is a known “antagonist” to calcium and this means that smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke might be at risk for some serious health problems relating directly to calcium.
Consider the studies done on smoking and the development of Osteoporosis – which is a disease that causes bones to weaken and even to fracture easily. Not only will a smoker be at a measurably higher risk for developing Osteoporosis, but many other risk factors common to smokers can lead to even worse bone density issues. For example, many smokers eat less and follow a poor diet, consume more alcohol than nonsmokers, and may even be less physically active which can all lead to further degradation of bone density.
The loss of calcium absorption due to smoking also means that a smoker will always be at greater risk of fracture as they age, that they will take longer to heal due to severe limitations of calcium absorption during the mending process, and that even secondhand smoke provides the same problems. Imagine the impact of smoking and calcium loss on a child or young person who is in their vital years of bone development and growth. Studies have shown that some of these people head into adulthood already at risk for low bone mass thanks to the long-term effects of exposure to cigarette smoke.
It is also significant to remember that it isn’t just the development of Osteoporosis or low bone density that is the only problem with smoking and calcium. When the teeth of a smoker become discolored and the gums begin to recede thanks to the effects of the tobacco use, the ability for the roots to reject weakness or infection decrease. Medical research has shown that gum and tooth decay can often be strongly linked to heart trouble. This implies that smoking, the loss of calcium, and the subsequent health problems are quite severe.
Fortunately, research has also uncovered evidence that those who quit smoking are able to reduce their risk of low bone density and easy fracturing, though it will require several years of a tobacco-free life style to repair some of the metabolic damages done by exposure to cigarette smoke.
