From a social trend, to being outlawed by almost every advertisement industry, cigarettes have had quite a lifeline in the American community. Tobacco, the primary ingredient in the “cancer stick,” is blended with numerous toxic additives that are harmful to almost every part of a person’s health. Smoking tobacco is linked to pain conditions in the back and degenerative disc diseases. The medical team at Southwest Spine and Pain Center continues to educate their patients on what they can do to quit this awful habit. A lifetime of body damage and stress is not worth the momentarily “kick” from a cigarette.
We have all seen the Truth campaign commercials. Statistics are thrown across the TV screen about a cigarette’s lasting negative effect on the human body, and it’s almost heart wrenching to watch. So many people have fallen under cigarette’s spell (nicotine addiction) and are having a difficult time quitting. Fact #125 tells us that 1 in 3 youth smokers will eventually die from a tobacco-related disease. We have been taught that nicotine inhalation can lead to lung, mouth, and throat cancer, but did you know that it can lead to diseases in your back? Continued research on the matter says that people who smoke are at four times a higher risk of developing degenerative disc disease than those who don’t smoke. Studies show that smoking is a leading risk factor in this problem.
When nicotine is released into the body it reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that are needed to keep the discs in the spine healthy. Over time, as the discs lose more and more nutrients, they become at a higher risk for rupture and severe damage. When a person inhales a cigarette, they are inhaling carbon monoxide. This toxic gas gets in the way of the tissue’s ability to absorb calcium, which eventually can lead to a compromised vertebral structure.
Smoking cessations are becoming familiar in almost every business’s wellness programs. By motivating employees to become healthier individuals, employers are offering programs for them to get involved with. People involved in a smoking cessation and have a spinal disorder report reduced levels of pain. Not only was their back pain improved, but they showed better results in visual analog scores.
The truth is out their about cigarette smoke. Don’t disregard the facts. Southwest Spine and Pain Center encourages patients who smoke to quit immediately. To find out more about what you can do to take control, call and schedule an appointment at any of the Southwest Spine and Pain Center clinics.
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With three locations and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
©Southwest Spine and Pain Center, 2013
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