Scarring
Nicotine causes vasoconstriction,
a narrowing of the blood vessels that can
limit oxygen-rich blood flow to the tiny vessels
in the face or other parts of the body.
This means your wounds will take longer to
heal and you'll have scars that are bigger
and redder than you would in a nonsmoking
parallel universe.
Smoking Inhibits Fracture
Healing and Bone Formation
Smoking inhibits estrogen
and impairs the health of muscles, bones,
and joints, according to a literature review
published in the Journal of the American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Several studies showed
that smokers who have wounds or surgical incisions
often take longer to heal than nonsmokers,
said coauthor Edward N. Hanley, Jr, MD, clinical
professor at the University of North Carolina,
Charlotte.
Dr. Hanley explained that smokers tissues
do not get enough oxygen to fully repair themselves,
making it more difficult to recover from a
broken bone. Smoking also slows healing after
orthopedic surgical procedures, he added.
In addition, the data showed
that smoking decreases the ability to form
bone, which increases the risk for osteoporosis.
Smoking accelerates bone loss in osteo-porotic
postmenopausal women, which may be due in
part to nicotine's inhibition of estrogen,
said Dr. Hanley.
Next: Tooth
loss