Smoking cigarettes have long been implicated as a health risk for many common chronic illnesses, including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, a weakened immune system and certain types of cancer.

Recently a report in the October 28, 2003 Journal of Neurology suggests that people who smoke can be up to three times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis than non-smokers. In spite of this information, it is estimated that approximately 23% of adults in the United States smoke, living an average of 5-10 years less than people who do not smoke. Several studies have also suggested that smoking increase the chances of back pain. Because November 20 is the annual Great American Smokeout this segment will look at the connection between smoking and back pain. How does smoking increase your chances for back pain? Smoking over a period of time will decrease the body’s ability to carry oxygen to individual cells of the low back. This occurs as a result of impaired lung capacity and a gradual hardening of the arteries that supply blood and nutrients to the spinal bones, discs, nerves, adjacent ligaments and muscles. Prolonged decreased blood supply and diminished oxygen concentration decreases your body’s ability to repair injured tissues and increases the length of time it will take. Nicotine has also been linked interfere with the effectiveness of certain hormones and vitamins needed for tissue repair. Smoking also increases the risk for degenerative disc disease, osteoporosis, spine and hip fractures and multiple sclerosis. Do smokers experience more back pain than non-smokers? Yes. The National Spine Network released a survey in 2002 comparing the duration and intensity of pain that smokers and non-smokers experienced during an episode of back pain. What they found was although smokers and non-smokers experienced spinal symptoms for the same amount of time, smokers experienced more severe symptoms for longer periods of time each day. A recently published report in Finland also suggests that smokers are more likely to be hospitalized for disc disorders. Are there general habits of smokers that can also contribute to increased chance of back pain? Current literature suggests that people who smoke also have a tendency to have a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, feel more stress and have lower job satisfaction than non-smokers. The combination of these lifestyle factors contributes to obesity, a decrease in overall body strength and poor low-back muscle tone. All of these are factors that increase the risk of back injury and back pain. What can be done to help people quit smoking? On November 20, the American Cancer Society will sponsor their annual Great American Smokeout which draws attention to the problems associated with smoking and methods to quit. Some people are able to quit smoking “cold turkey,” but most people will need some form of smoking cessation program. These programs include acupuncture, counseling, hypnosis and, at times, medication. Because poor lifestyle habits are so closely related to smoking, an effective smoking cessation program should include nutritional counseling and an exercise program to help improve overall fitness and create healthier lifestyle habits.

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