{"id":568,"date":"2019-10-28T19:14:11","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T19:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/momentum-chiro.com\/?p=568"},"modified":"2019-10-28T19:14:11","modified_gmt":"2019-10-28T19:14:11","slug":"smoking-and-your-lower-back-pain-whats-the-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/momentum-chiro.com\/smoking-and-your-lower-back-pain-whats-the-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoking and Your Lower Back Pain: What\u2019s The Connection?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Smoking is bad news. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide<\/a>, and ditching cigarettes benefits nearly everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Never mind the health consequences, which are themselves disastrous; smoking creates an incredible financial burden. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that between 2000 and 2004, the average annual productivity losses attributable to smoking averaged about a whopping $96.8 billion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite knowing its massive risks, about 20 percent or 60 million Americans still smoke<\/a>. Even if you don\u2019t smoke, second-hand smoke can create premature death from chronic diseases, economic losses to society, and a substantial public health burden<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You know the usual reasons to avoid lighting up. Cigarette smoking contributes to many diseases including cancer, chronic lung and vascular diseases, and oral disease<\/a>. Several toxins in cigarette smoke can suppress your immune system. And certain components in cigarette smoke can create inflammation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smoking also worsens insulin resistance, which sets the stage for Type 2 diabetes and all its complications<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While many smokers light up to take away pain \u2013 like to alleviate a stressful morning at work \u2013 smoking can actually create more<\/em> pain. Studies find smokers have higher levels of pain that is expressed as fibromyalgia, back pain, and headaches<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s another reason to stop smoking: Smoking can trigger or exacerbate back pain, creating problems like degenerative lumbar spine issues. Back pain is the most common chronic painful condition in America<\/a> that reduces quality of life while creating enormous financial and social burdens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Americans spend about $34 billion in direct costs yearly to treat back pain. While other factors play a role \u2013 including physical activity and work environment \u2013 smoking is an often-overlooked variable for back pain<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In one study, 1,337 physicians from Johns Hopkins University followed participants, in some cases for more than 50 years<\/a>. They found lower back pain was significantly associated with smoking history and hypertension, and development of lumbar spondylosis \u2013 deterioration of the lumbar portion of your spinal cord \u2013 was significantly associated with smoking history, hypertension, and high cholesterol<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And one meta-analysis found both current and former smokers have a higher (but fairly modest) prevalence and incidence of low back pain compared with folks who never smoked<\/a>, and the association was stronger in adolescents than adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among current daily smokers, other research shows those who smoked more cigarettes per day had a statistically higher prevalence of back pain<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For one, nicotine makes you feel excited. After all, this powerful stimulant can alter your pain perception and threshold<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smoking also increases circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines<\/a>\u2014these are the cells that create inflammation in your body<\/a>. Smoking can increase inflammation, which contributes to nearly every disease on the planet<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While kicking the habit can reduce or eliminate back pain, you might consider visiting a chiropractor <\/a>or other healthcare professional if you experience this condition or if you still have back pain after quitting smoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with its incentive of alleviating back pain and so many other conditions, quitting can be extremely difficult. After all, nicotine is a powerful stimulant that affects neurotransmitters like dopamine, involved in the rewarding and reinforcing effects of nicotine. Dopamine plays a key role in making nicotine so addictive<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whereas alcoholics experience withdrawal when they give up booze, stimulants like nicotine trigger cravings \u2013 making you irritable and intensely want to smoke<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most people require several tries before smoking cessation becomes permanent. These seven strategies can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smoking? Lung Cancer Isn\u2019t The Only Reason to Quit You Know Smoking is Bad, Then Why Do You Smoke? Back Pain How Does Smoking Create Back Pain? Quit Smoking For Good With These 7 Strategies Smoking is bad news. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, and ditching cigarettes benefits nearly everyone. Never…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":569,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[38,8],"yoast_head":"\nYou Know Smoking is Bad, Then Why Do You Smoke?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cancers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Weight Gain & Diabetes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Back Pain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Does Smoking Create Back Pain?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Quit Smoking For Good With These 7 Strategies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n