Smoking and Lower Back Pain

Many people will easily link smoking to the symptoms of coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, but how many people who complain of aches and pains in the lower back will think it could be related to lighting up a cigarette?

Smoking can have a range of negative effects on the body, but it is the interruption of the body’s transport system and the supply of fresh blood and nutrients to certain areas that can ultimately cause pains in the lower back region. If you do smoke, it’s important to be aware of the risks you may be putting your body through; it’s not just the lungs that suffer when you inhale cigarette smoke, but the general health of the whole body.

For those that decide to stop smoking, there are various ways in which you can help the body adjust to a healthier way of life, here are a few tips:
– Drink plenty of water, as it helps to flush nicotine from the body
– Cut down on caffeine by drinking less tea and coffee as caffeine can act as a stimulant and induce nervousness
– Walk briskly for half an hour a day – you’ll be more positive, burn up stress and calories and develop more energy and endurance
– Think positively about what you are doing. Instead of thinking that you are depriving yourself of a cigarette, think of all the good you are doing for your body

If you want to stop smoking, or  need some help and advice, visit the NHS Stop Smoking website for more details.