subject: Happy Holidays from Vancouver WA Chiropractors Forgey Sports Med [print this page] Happy Holidays from Vancouver WA Chiropractors Forgey Sports Med
A Holiday Season Health Tip on Tobacco Use and Back Pain
Our Vancouver Washington chiropractor team at Forgey Sports Medicine provides an educational component to our patients to increase their overall health. Most people are aware that smoking can cause lung and mouth cancer, as well as heart and lung disease. However, many people are not aware that it can also put a person at risk for back pain, osteoporosis and bone fractures. Quitting smoking will not only greatly improve ones health, it could also mean the difference between weeks and months of recovery and time off work. Almost everyone experiences lower back pain in their lifetime. An estimated 80% of adults will experience back pain that will require medical attention. In the workplace, low back pain is one of the most common health-related causes of missed workdays, second only to upper respiratory infections such as the common cold. Evidence has shown that smokers have a higher incidence of low back pain.
Most studies on the effects of smoking suggest that smoking increases the risk of having a fracture. For example:
1) Smokers lose bone at a faster rate than non-smokers as they age.
2) The longer you smoke and the more cigarettes you consume, the greater your risk of fracture in old age.
3) Smokers who fracture may take longer to heal than non-smokers and may experience more complications during the healing process.
4) At least one study suggest that exposure to secondhand smoke during youth and early adulthood may increase the risk of developing low bone mass.
5) Compared with nonsmokers, women who smoke often produce less estrogen and tend to experience menopause earlier, which may lead to increased bone loss.
6) Quitting smoking appears to reduce the risk of low bone mass and fractures. However, it may take several years to lower a former smokers risk.
It has been widely shown that people who exercise regularly report fewer back pain problems. In addition, exercise stimulates the bodys natural healing and pain control systems, and weight-bearing exercises stimulate bone growth. At Forgey Sports Medicine our Vancouver, Washington Chiropractor can and will relieve patient back pain and help you in your overall health plan.
