Dr. Giovanini & Dr. Capra 850.934.7545

Patient Resources

Request Appointment

Why Smoking Is Bad For The Spine

About This Blog:

  • For the most part, it’s common knowledge smoking can lead to cancer, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and other life-threatening health conditions.
  • Despite some of these well-known facts, you may not know smoking can have a negative impact on the spine as well.
  • Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine explains to readers why smoking is bad for the spine.

Physical exercise, a balanced diet, and hormonal activity are all imperative for bone function and health. Unfortunately, nicotine and carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke impairs these natural body behaviors, which may lead to significant spinal problems. To dive into this topic a little further, below is a breakdown of how smoking negatively affects the spine.  

Degenerative Disc Disease

As we age, the vertebral discs in our spine begin to weaken and dry out, causing them to crack and bulge. Smoking accelerates this process by depriving spinal discs of essential nutrients, which causes cell damage to their annulus and nucleus pulpous. Prolonged smoking will eventually cause your spinal discs to degenerate and bulge or rupture (spinal disc herniation). Degenerative disc disease is a painful condition for healthy individuals, and more so for those who smoke because smoking may increase sensitivity to pain. To avoid this fate, put out your cigarette and quit for good.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone-thinning disease that leads to fragile bones, which makes them susceptible to injury and fractures. According to a study published in the Muscle, Ligaments and Tendons Journal, there is a strong correlation between osteoporosis and smoking. Women who smoked more than one pack a day throughout adulthood had a 5-10% lower bone density than non-smokers, according to the report. Additionally, smoking may lead to a 32% increase in spinal fractures for men, and a 13% increase for women. To learn more, visit the Spinal Research Foundation.

Smoking And Surgery

Cigarette smoking also impedes healing after spinal surgery. Research from the National Spine Network states smokers often experience increased rates of delayed wound healing, post-operative infections and decreased success in spinal fusions. Moreover, the report suggested smokers have longer post-surgical hospital stays than non-smokers. Quitting smoking is incredibly beneficial for spinal surgery recovery. Various reports have said that even stopping five to seven days before surgery can increase the likelihood of your wound healing properly. To learn how you can quit smoking, visit smokefree.gov.

For more information on minimally invasive spine surgery or to make an appointment with Dr. Giovanini, please call (850) 934-7545 or visit http://www.neuromicrospine.com/request-appointment.

We hope to see you soon!

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 judgement. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.