Wrinkled smokers face higher risk of lung disease

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A study shows that smokers who are heavily wrinkled are more likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
It is well known that smoking ages the skin and that it is a primary cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But is there a connection between the two? Researchers in Exeter, England, looked at a group of 149 current and former middle aged smokers from 78 families.

They found that 68 of them had COPD. More than 80 per cent of the total group had no or very few facial lines while 25 had widespread wrinkles. The researchers found that forced expiratory volume in one second, which is a way of measuring lung strength, was significantly lower among those who had extensive wrinkles. And those whose faces were lined were five times more likely to have COPD than those who were minimally wrinkled. Facial wrinkling was also linked to three times the risk of having more severe lung disease. It is not clear just how this link arises but it may be that the same mechanism that damages the skin also harms the lungs.

Source
Thorax Online First 13th June 2006

Please take a moment to give us your comments. For questions about Health matters you may check our "Questions & Answers" Portal and Service.