Smoking Is Bad For Your Back

very few individuals are aware of the effects of smoking on the spine

Are you aware that cigarettes are bad for your back? Smoking can cause the individual disks in your spine to degenerate faster than they should. This is because these discs are cushions like sponges which are placed between each vertebra and they need their healthy supply of water, blood and other nutrients to stay on top form. Smoking is known to restrict blood vessels and this can cut off the blood supply to the vertebrae. Basically smoking can dry out your vertebrae and thus cause back pain in the long term.

When people age their vertebrae discs become smaller and this is a natural process which is why elderly people tend to be smaller in height. Some chiropractors claim that heavy smokers of say 40 years old have the spines of a 60 year old person due to their habit. Not only will smoking constrict your vertebrae but also greatly increases the chances of you suffering from a serious back problem like a ruptured or slipped disc. If you are a smoker and you suffer from a back injury it is likely that the healing process will take much longer.

Everybody knows about the fact that smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer and a list of other illnesses but very few individuals are aware of the effects of smoking on the spine. If you have a history of back problems in your family you should be aware of this and add back injury to the list of possible smoking related health problems.

Many smokers who suffer from back injuries are unaware that their cigarettes have anything to do with it and will invariably blame other factors for their problem. It is never too late or too early to quit smoking and the health benefits of quitting are enormous. Young people continue to smoke because they feel that the health risks are insignificant but in the future they are likely to regret ever having picked up that first cigarette.