Smoking Cessation for Osteoporosis Risk Reduction

Benefits of Smoking Cessation

There is no age limit to the benefits of smoking cessation, making it valuable even for a 64-year-old woman, with significant morbidity reductions reported within the first 6 months 1
The risk associated with smoking is proportionately higher in women than in men, making cessation particularly important for women 1
Quitting smoking must be encouraged in all smokers regardless of age, as the benefits extend beyond bone health to overall mortality and morbidity 2

For a 64-year-old woman at risk of osteoporosis, smoking cessation should be combined with other preventive measures, including regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, fall prevention strategies, and bone mineral density testing 3

The "Five As" approach is recommended for smoking cessation counseling, which includes asking about smoking status, advising to quit, assessing willingness to quit, assisting in preparing a quitting plan, and arranging follow-up 1
Pharmacological support may be needed to increase success rates, and should be discussed with the patient 2