At first glance, it may seem strange to think that smoking could be linked to back pain. After all, we usually associate smoking with lung problems, heart disease, or cancer. However, research has shown that smoking can indeed increase the risk of experiencing pain, including back pain.
Most people know about the common health risks of smoking, such as lung disease, heart problems, diabetes, and cancer. But what you may not know is that smoking can also affect your spine.
Does Smoking Cause Back Pain?
Yes, smoking can cause back pain. The damage goes beyond your lungs and heart. Smoking introduces chemicals into your body that can harm your arteries, reducing blood flow throughout your system. This poor circulation means fewer nutrients reach critical areas like your spine, which leaves the vertebrae and the discs between them vulnerable to damage. Over time, this can lead to degeneration and, ultimately, back pain.
Don’t worry, one puff of a cigarette won’t cause immediate back pain. But over time, the chemicals in cigarette smoke gradually damage your arteries. When blood flow decreases, the spine and its discs don’t get the nutrients they need, which can result in pain or even conditions like osteoarthritis. Poor blood flow to the spine is already an issue for many people, but it’s especially worse for smokers.
The Science Behind Smoking and Back Pain
There’s solid evidence to support the link between smoking and back pain. A 2016 study examined more than 34,000 adults in the U.S., dividing them into three groups: current smokers, former smokers, and non-smokers. The study found that people who smoked at the time of the survey had a higher prevalence of back pain than those who had quit or never smoked. In fact, 36.9% of current smokers reported experiencing back pain in the past three months, compared to 33% of former smokers and 23% of non-smokers.
What was even more interesting was that the more cigarettes someone smoked per day, the more severe their pain tended to be.
Will Quitting Smoking Help Back Pain?
The next question is whether quitting smoking can help alleviate back pain. The good news is that it can. Studies show that people who quit smoking often experience a reduction in both the severity and frequency of their pain over time. This improvement happens because once you stop smoking, your body begins to heal. Blood circulation improves, and crucial nutrients are able to reach the spine, helping to repair the damage caused by smoking.
Some people may experience upper back pain shortly after quitting smoking, which can happen as the body adjusts to improved circulation. But this discomfort is usually temporary and fades as the body continues to heal.
Does Smoking Weed Help with Back Pain?
What about marijuana? Can smoking weed help with back pain? Some people believe it can, but the answer is more complicated. While cannabis may offer pain relief for some people, smoking marijuana, like smoking tobacco, introduces harmful chemicals into the lungs. Over time, this can lead to reduced blood flow, which could affect the health of your spine.
Although marijuana might offer temporary relief, it’s important to weigh the potential downsides of smoking it. If you’re considering using cannabis for pain relief, it’s worth discussing other options with a healthcare provider, such as using edibles or CBD oil.
Key Points
Smoking can indeed contribute to back pain by affecting more than just your lungs and heart. It can reduce blood flow and prevent essential nutrients from reaching your spine, which can lead to degeneration and pain. Quitting smoking can help reduce back pain over time by allowing your body to heal and improving circulation.
While there may be some discomfort as your body adjusts after quitting, it’s generally a short-term issue. In the long run, giving up smoking could be the key to relieving chronic back pain.
