- What Causes Arthritis - New Smoking Facts Place Cigarette Smoking
Among the Possible Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Is smoking what causes arthritis?
There are new smoking facts to show that in some populations, rheumatoid
arthritis may now be one of the diseases caused by smoking.
It appears that the harmful smoking effects on the body's connective and skeletal tissue includes influencing the
immune system functions that eventually cause rheumatoid arthritis.
The smoking facts just keep on accumulating.
Ted R., Mikuls Harlan, Sayles Fang Yu, Tricia LeVan, Karen A. Gould, Geoffrey M. Thiele, Doyt L. Conn,
Beth L. Jonas, Leigh F. Callahan, Edwin Smith, Richard Brasington, Larry W. Moreland, Richard J. Reynolds,
S. Louis Bridges Associations of cigarette smoking with rheumatoid arthritis in African AmericansArthritis & Rheumatism,Vol 62 Iss 12, Nov 2010
Specifically in the African American population new evidence places Rheumatoid Arthritis on the list of smoking related
diseases.
This link was demonstrated in a large case control study in the US. When patients with rheumatoid arthritis
were divided into smokers and never smokers there were more people in the smoker's group.
The smoking facts show that one of the harmful effects of smoking on the body is reduced oxygenation to all tissues.
Is it any wonder that connective and skeletal tissue is affected as well?
Smoking is already listed as one of the causes of osteoporosis.
This seems to be a reasonable connection, since skeletal tissue cannot remain healthy if the bones are not well oxygenated.
But the causes of rheumatoid arthritis are believed to be an autoimmune process.
This means that it is a disordered immune system function where the body's immune system attacks its own
tissue as if it were foreign.
However, if you consider the
many harmful smoking effects on your immune system functions it should not be a surprise that the new smoking facts are linking it as one of the possible causes of rheumatoid arthritis in some populations.
Is there no end to the harmful effects of smoking on the body?
Perhaps in the future the definitive answer to the question what causes arthritis will be ....cigarette smoking.
More Smoking Facts About the Harmful Effects of Smoking on the Body Skeleton
Smoking is also a factor in another health problem related to the skeleton.
The purpose of the information provided here is to help you cooperate with your doctor and other
health practitioners. It is not intended to take the place of medical advice and you are encouraged to
discuss health concerns with your physician or a professional health care provider who is
familiar with you and your unique personal health context.
