Why smoking is bad news for your spine and how to deal with it

How smoking affects your spinal health -- causes, risk factors, treatment and prevention.

Smoking causes nicotine addiction, increases the risk of cancer, leads to higher chance of arteriosclerosis and heart disease, and decreased life expectancy. These facts are well-known. But one of the issues that many don't know is that smoking can deteriorate the health of the spine, which can lead to multiple health problems. Our expert Dr Satnam Singh Chhabra, Head Neuro and Spine Department, Sir Gangaram Hospital explains everything you need to know about the adverse effects of smoking on spinal health.

How smoking affects bone development?

Bone is a living tissue dependent on the functions and support provided by the other body systems. When these systems are not able to perform normally, bone is unable to rebuild itself. The formation of bone is particularly influenced by physical exercise and hormonal activity, both of which are adversely affected by cigarette smoking.

Physical activity: When you smoke, it reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood and increases the level of harmful substances, such as carbon monoxide. This combined with the effects of smoking on the heart and blood vessels can limit the benefits from physical activity.

Hormonal function: Smoking increases estrogen loss in both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. This can result in loss of bone density, which cause bones to lose strength and become more fragile.

Cigarette smoking and spinal problems

The toxins in cigarettes wreak havoc on our bones and soft tissues. Here are some of the common areas of the spine that bear the brunt of smoking.

Intervertebral discs The discs that separate adjacent vertebrae -- intervertebral discs -- get a very low blood supply due to excessive smoking. This further inhibits the blood circulation, making it impossible for these discs to absorb the nutrients and thus lead to health problems of the intervertebral discs.

Vertebrae Smoking reduces bone density, which puts the vertebrae at greater risk of developing osteoporosis, facet disease, spinal arthritis and other degenerative spine conditions.

Connective tissues Nicotine (present in cigarette) causes a reduction in collagen levels, which makes soft tissues and cartilage less elastic and resilient. Tendons and ligaments also become vulnerable to injury.

Muscles Besides the general degenerative effects of smoking on the muscles, tobacco also harms the lungs, making physical activity difficult. The result can be lowered muscle mass due to inactivity.

Nerves When cartilage, vertebrae and intervertebral discs get weaken, the chances of a herniated disc or bulging disc increases. These conditions can cause disc material to impinge spinal nerves.

Healing after a spinal fusion

Smoking greatly compromises the healing process during and after a spinal fusion, which is a surgical procedure to treat the bone loss of the spine used to join bony segments of the spine (eg, vertebrae). For the fusion to heal, new bone growth must occur, bridging between the spinal segments. Smoking disrupts the normal function of basic body systems that contribute to bone formation and growth. New bone growth is necessary for a fusion to heal.

Also, smoking compromises the immune system and the body s other defence mechanisms, which can increase the patient s susceptibility to postoperative infection.

Expert tips to kick the butt

Quitting smoking is obviously easier said than done. However, here are a few tips that may help the transition go a bit more smoothly.

• One should drink plenty of water or opt for non-caffeinated beverages because caffeine can increase the nicotine craving.
• Try to exercise on a regular basis and get about eight hours of sleep each night. Many people reach for their pack of cigarettes when they feel tired or unenergised, so this will help.
• As smoking has a lot to do with habit, try changing your lifestyle or behaviour. For example, eat your lunch in a different spot, walk your dog on a different route or read a book instead of watching television.

You may also like to read:

• 4 qualities I imbibed on the road to quitting smoking
• The icky 3s How they can make you get back to smoking
• Trying to quit smoking? Here s how to deal with smokers
• 10 things that helped me survive the incredibly tough two months of quitting smoking

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