Are you tired of waiting around for your body to heal from injuries? Does it feel like broken bones take forever to mend? Well, there could be something you’re doing that’s making it harder for your body to recover. And the good news is, it’s something you have control over! Make just one simple lifestyle change, and you may start to see a vast improvement in your body’s ability to heal broken bones. In fact, this change could speed up your healing time by an average of six weeks.
The Secret to Faster Healing
So, what’s the trick to quicker healing? Simple – don’t smoke. Yes, you read that right. Your smoking habit could be the reason why your body takes longer to heal. Research from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows that cigarette smoking leads to longer healing times and an increased rate of post-operative complications and infections for patients who have sustained bone fractures or traumatic bone injuries.
Smoking Affects Your Bones
You might already be aware that smoking is a major cause of preventable diseases in the United States. But have you ever thought about how smoking affects your bones? According to Dr. Samir Mehta, chief of the Orthopaedic Trauma and Fracture Service at Penn Medicine, there’s a lack of evidence demonstrating how smoking changes the way our bones heal. However, their study adds substantial support, showing that smoking presents a significant risk to fracture patients, and these risks need to be addressed both upon the initial injury and throughout the surgical process.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
The study found that fractured bones in smokers took roughly 30.2 weeks to heal compared to 24.1 weeks in non-smokers. That’s six weeks, or approximately 42 days, of additional healing time that could be avoided by not smoking. Additionally, the research showed that fractured bones in smokers were 2.3 times more likely to result in non-unions (fractures that don’t heal properly) compared to non-smokers.
How Does Smoking Slow Down Healing?
You might be wondering how smoking slows down your body’s ability to heal. The answer lies in the way smoking affects blood flow. Smoking narrows blood vessels and reduces blood flow, which impairs the body’s ability to deliver essential nutrients and oxygen to the injury site. Consequently, this reduces the number of cells available to repair and build new bone tissue. This ultimately prolongs the healing process and increases the risk of complications and infections.
What Can You Do to Speed Up Healing Time?
If you’re a smoker and want to boost your body’s healing capabilities, it’s time to quit. In fact, research has shown that soon after quitting smoking, the body starts to repair itself. A 2013 study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that smokers who quit at least four weeks before surgery had significantly lower post-operative complication rates compared to those who did not quit.
However, quitting smoking can be difficult. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help you succeed in your journey, such as smoking cessation apps, the American Lung Association, and the CDC’s tips for quitting smoking.
In addition to quitting smoking, you can further support your body’s healing process by:
- Eating a healthy diet rich in essential nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, and protein.
- Getting enough sleep, which allows your body to heal and repair damaged tissues.
- Engaging in regular exercise to maintain strong bones and muscles, as well as improve circulation and overall health.
The Bottom Line: Stop Smoking for Faster Healing
So, there you have it – the secret to speeding up your body’s healing process and mending broken bones more quickly is to stop smoking. Not only will this lifestyle change improve your overall health, but it will also reduce the time it takes for your body to recover from injuries. Give your body the best possible chance to heal and give yourself a brighter, healthier future by kicking the habit today!
