Back Pain Worsened By Smoking

After years of the media, schools, and other outlets expressing the dangers of smoking, most people would suggest that tobacco causes cancer and respiratory illnesses. Unfortunately, there is a large percentage of the population still unaware of how cigarettes impact back health.

It has long been known that tobacco use can increase the likelihood of back pain and disc disease. However, more recent research is even suggesting that the habit of smoking decreases the likelihood that a back pain patient will find relief.

Nearly every adult living in this country will see a medical professional regarding back pain at some point during his or her life. However, not all will suffer with that pain chronically. Those that light up each day are more likely to suffer long term. That also means the need for treatment continues. Unfortunately, for those entering programs as smokers, the chances of finding a method of alleviating the pain are much smaller.

More than five thousand patients were followed in the study that led to these findings. All had been diagnosed with back or leg pain due to a spinal disorder and would be treated via surgical and non-surgical methods over an eight month period. Those that had never started or who had managed to kick their tobacco habits reported less pain then those still toting packs of cigarettes.

There is actually good news to be found in this study if you are a smoker and back pain sufferer. Even those patients who quit the habit during the eight month span reported better levels of improvement than those who didn’t.

Quit now, and you could finally find relief from your chronic pain.

For more information about the study, continue reading here.