Although seemingly completely different topics, smoking and herniated discs are actually related due to the degenerative effects of the chemicals in cigarettes.
Smoking is a known contributor to many spinal concerns and regular smokers are three times more likely to suffer chronic back pain than people who do not smoke at all.
This article will investigate the intimate relationship between herniated spinal discs and smoking.
We will also explore how other spinal degenerative processes are escalated from regular tobacco use.
Smoking contributes to both osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. These conditions are instrumental in creating herniations of the intervertebral discs due to spinal aging.
Smoking is a prime causation of recurrent coughing, which can create increased pressure in the lumbar spine and also increase the likelihood of herniations.
Smoking is detrimental to the general health and can cause far worse conditions than bulging discs. It can also cause high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and various forms of cancer.
Smoking is known to contribute to birth defects and even second hand smoke is dangerous to pregnant women.
Besides increasing the likelihood of anatomical disc herniations, smoking can also directly worsen back pain due to ischemia. Oxygen deprivation back pain is the more common forms of chronic symptomology and is often enacted by the subconscious mindbody process, creating a psychosomatic pain syndrome.
However, physical factors can make this condition far worse and smoking is among the most affective habitual contributor.
Smoking contains carbon monoxide, which is a poison and also reduces cellular oxygenation. Long-term smoking can make it far more difficult for your blood to carry the oxygen your cells need and may exacerbate or even commence ischemia back or neck pain conditions.
There is not a single person on the planet who does not know that smoking kills. Some people just do not seem to care.
Remember, that your cigarettes are not only killing you, but they are also harming those around you and helping to destroy the very environment of our beloved planet.
Please stop smoking already.
Talk to your doctor to learn how ceasing smoking can help your back pain and also put you on the path to better health. This is a choice which just might save your life, not just your spine.