Woman in China breaks 5 ribs from husband's hug, diets frequently & rarely gets sunlight

In Jiangsu, China, a woman sustained five broken ribs and a cracked rib when hugged by her husband, Wang, according to a report by Jingshi Live. The incident occurred after Wang noticed his wife, who was between 45kg and 50kg, complaining of feeling cold. He embraced her, only to hear a cracking sound during the hug. Panicked, his wife immediately curled up in pain and was unable to stand.

Wang, who had used no excessive force, expressed surprise at the severity of the injuries. The woman suffered the pain throughout the night before seeking medical help the next morning. A chest CT scan confirmed the extent of her injuries, and doctors determined surgery was unnecessary. Instead, they prescribed medication, medicated patches, and rest.

Wang explained that his wife had a history of dieting, skipping dinner, and consumed at least one cup of coffee daily. She also rarely ventured outdoors, seldom basking in sunlight, a crucial factor in vitamin D production. Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption, essential for bone density. Doctors attributed the injuries primarily to osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones, making them more prone to fractures.

Osteoporosis, according to Wang, was exacerbated by his wife's frequent dieting, coffee intake, and lack of sunlight exposure. Yan Yanxiang, an associate chief orthopaedic physician at Wuhan Asia Heart General Hospital, shared that rib fractures from ordinary hugs are rare, attributing the woman's case to osteoporosis, lifestyle habits, and daily coffee consumption.

He noted that excessive coffee and tea consumption, along with steroid medication use, could accelerate calcium loss from bones, contributing to osteoporosis. However, the report did not establish a direct link between her daily coffee intake and osteoporosis. Yan advised maintaining bone health through adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, sunlight exposure, and resistance exercises.