A construction worker might blame his jackhammer for his sore back. An office worker might chalk up the ache to an uncomfortable chair. Fair enough. But if either person happens to be a smoker, there just might be a different explanation for his or her pain.
In recent years, researchers have uncovered a surprising connection between smoking and back pain. In study after study, smokers seem to be more likely than nonsmokers to suffer sore backs.
The trend holds for men and women, manual laborers and white-collar workers. The investigations raise interesting questions about the root causes of pain. On a more practical level, they also give smokers a whole new reason to quit.
A study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases drives the point home. British researchers asked 13,000 people about their lifestyles, including their smoking habits, jobs, activity levels, and history of pain.
After adjusting for the demands of strenuous jobs and other factors that might cause back pain, the scientists concluded that smoking -- by itself -- raised the risk of debilitating back pain by about 30 percent. Smoking also seemed to make people slightly more vulnerable to pain in the neck, shoulders, elbows, hands, hips, and knees.
Their report is not alone in its conclusions. A review of over 40 studies published in the journal Spine concluded that "the data are fairly consistent that smoking is associated with... low back pain."
A study published in the same journal noted that regular smoking in adolescence was associated with lower back pain in young adults, especially among girls.
RELATED: What Are Quit-Smoking Programs and How Can They Help You?
How could smoking cause back pain?
Scientists aren't sure why some smokers are prone to back pain. According to the report in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, nicotine from cigarettes "could affect the manner in which the brain processes sensory stimuli and the central perception of pain" -- in other words, cigarettes affect the way the brain sends its pain signals.
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Smoking may also damage tissue in the lower back and elsewhere in the body by slowing down circulation and reducing the flow of nutrients to joints and muscles, according to the journal.
Even after 40-plus studies, however, researchers are leaving open the possibility that the link between smoking and back pain could be a coincidence.
As reported in Spine, an overlooked trait such as depression or anxiety could cause back pain AND make people more likely to smoke. Or maybe smokers develop certain behaviors -- like coughing or stooping to find lost cigarettes -- that make them more prone to back pain.
Should I give up smoking for the sake of my back?
The data may still be a little fuzzy, but the message is clear. As reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, smokers who suffer from back pain have every reason to kick the addiction.
Giving up cigarettes probably won't immediately banish back pain, but it just might help. Of course, quitting smoking will also dramatically lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, emphysema, and a host of other diseases. Back pain or no, that's a great comfort.
Want to quit, but not sure where to start? Check out these tips from the American Lung Association:
- Focus on your motivators. Motivation waxes and wanes and this is 100 percent normal—what can you do to increase your motivation when you feel defeated or low?
- Build confidence. Confidence that your attempt will be successful is important! What can you do to increase your confidence levels? Your confidence can increase when you make and achieve a series of small goals, when you visualize your success and when you feel like you have the tools ready for any situation.
- Stress management is key. Many smokers smoke to manage stress, distress, and negative emotions. Being prepared with other ways to manage these feelings can be difficult and takes a lot of practice. What do your non-smoking friends do to manage stress?
- It's never too late to quit. While it's best to quit smoking as early as possible, quitting smoking at any age will enhance the length and quality of your life. You'll also save money and avoid the hassle of going outside in the cold to smoke. You can even inspire those around you to quit smoking!
- Learn from past experiences. Most people who smoke have tried to quit before and sometimes they get discouraged thinking about previous attempts. But these experiences tell us a lot about what to do and what not to do next time! These experiences are steps on the road to future success. Think about what worked for you last time, what didn't work and what you might do differently this time.
- You don't have to quit alone. Telling friends and family that you're trying to quit and enlisting their support will help ease the process. Expert help is available from the American Lung Association and other groups. Friends who also smoke may even join you in trying to quit!
- Medications are safe and effective and will help you quit and stay quit when used properly. The seven FDA-approved medications include nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, inhaler, and nasal spray as well as varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Zyban). Ask your healthcare provider for recommendations. The medications help with withdrawal symptoms, urges and cravings, but do not help with the habit or with managing stress or negative emotions. Many people don't use the medications correctly or don't use them long enough or expect the medication to replace all that smoking used to do for us. Be sure to follow the directions and combine medications with other tools for quitting.
- Every smoker can quit. At the American Lung Association, we firmly believe that every smoker can quit. Everyone is different and each quit attempt is a little different. Find the right combination of tools, medications, and support for you! And above all, keep trying.
