Smoke gets in your knees
A new study shows that smoking can contribute to the loss of cartilage, increasing the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic conducted regular MRIs on the knees of 159 men over 30 months. The smokers in the group showed more than twice the risk for cartilage loss in the joint connecting the thigh bone and the shinbone, and the joint between the knee cap and the thigh bone. The scientists suggest that toxins in cigarettes starve tissues of oxygen, hindering the body's ability to repair and regenerate cartilage.
We all know that smoking is unhealthy. But this study and others just confirm the far reaching effects that smoking has on our body. And smokers, if you think the damage is done and it's too late for you, take note: this study found that former smokers' cartilage condition was about comparable to that of people who had never smoked - showing that it is never too late.
