RNH Hospital’s Stand Against Tobacco

The Hidden Dangers of Tobacco

Tobacco harms almost every organ in the human body. Most people know about its effects on the lungs and heart, but fewer are aware that tobacco use also damages bones, joints, muscles, and even the eyes.

• Bone Health: Tobacco use leads to decreased bone density, making individuals more prone to fractures and bone diseases.
• Joint Degeneration: Smokers are at a higher risk of osteoarthritis and experience faster degeneration of joints.
• Cancer: Tobacco is a major cause of cancers of the lung, throat, mouth, and oesophagus.
• Cardiovascular Damage: It increases the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
• Poor Immunity & Healing: Tobacco reduces the body’s ability to fight infections and delays wound healing.

Orthopaedic Perspective: Tobacco Slows Recovery

At RNH Hospital, our Orthopaedic experts — Dr. Dilip Rathi and Dr. Mukesh Laddha — regularly witness how tobacco affects surgical outcomes. Research and clinical experience show that:

• Smokers experience delayed fracture healing due to reduced blood flow to the bones.
• Tobacco use increases the risk of infections after joint replacement surgeries.
• Patients who smoke often report longer recovery times and poorer pain outcomes following orthopaedic procedures.

For patients undergoing robotic knee or hip replacements, quitting tobacco can significantly enhance recovery and improve surgical results.

Diabetes and Eye Health: A Double Burden

Dr. Neeta Rathi, leading Diabetologist and Ophthalmologist at RNH Hospital, emphasizes the dangerous combination of diabetes and tobacco. Smoking:

• Raises blood sugar levels, making diabetes harder to control.
• Increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma.
• Accelerates vision loss in diabetic patients.

By quitting tobacco, diabetic patients can protect both their eyesight and overall health.