It's common for adults to complain about low back pain. Sometimes the easiest and fastest way to get rid of the discomfort is by reaching for ibuprofen for lower back pain. Some low back pains are superficial and can quickly go away on their own. However, some low back pains can be influenced by bad habits, and quitting them may be one of the key reasons to help you ease the discomfort.

Did you know that smoking cigarette can make your back pain worse? On top of all the harmful effects of smoking on your health, it can also contribute to your increased inflammation and reduced blood flow. This means that your body won't be able to heal itself like before and can trigger more pain. However, quitting smoking can improve overall health and reduce your pains, including low back pains.

How Does Smoking Hurt Your Back?

Experts believe smokers have a higher risk of developing low back pain than non-smokers. According to this study, 23.5% of non-smokers experience back pain, 33.1% of former smokers get them, and 36.9% of current smokers experience bouts of back pain.

So how does smoking bring you low back pain? Here are common reasons that link smoking to back pain.

Smoking Affects Blood Flow

A common compound found in cigarettes is nicotine which narrows your blood vessels and limits the amount of blood reaching your systems and organs. Narrow blood vessels also decrease the amount of oxygen and nutrients your cells receive. This can end up damaging your ligaments and muscles located in the spine area, which can then lead to back pain. Pay attention to all your symptoms aside from low back pain. This is necessary to help you find an efficient remedy if needed. 

Smokers and those exposed to smokers regularly are also at risk for atherosclerosis. This condition leads to a decreased blood flow to your organs and body tissues which may then result in ischemia which can potentially cause low back pain and even intervertebral disc degeneration.

Smoking Weakens the Spine

Smoking cigarettes reduces the nutrients your blood carries to the rest of your spinal discs and joints. These reduced nutrients can lead to premature degeneration of your spine and discs. Smokers also have slower vitamin D production, which puts them at a higher risk of decreased bone density. This can also lead to higher risks of fractures and low back pain. 

If you're a smoker, you also end up processing vitamin C faster, which lowers its levels in the blood. Lack of Vitamin C triggers poor collagen production and is related to neck pain, low back pain, and sciatica. It also increases your chances of developing osteoporosis, a disease that makes your bones weak to the point where they can easily break. Most often, bones in the hip, spine, and wrist.

Smoking Triggers Onset of Chronic Back Pain

Smoking tends to affect how a person's brain is wired. Smokers have a higher chance of developing chronic back pain due to the cooperation of the nucleus accumbens, or the brain part that plays a crucial role in motivation, reward, and addiction. Your medial prefrontal cortex, or the part of the brain that mediates decision making, also gets affected. The connection between these brain areas tends to weaken due to regular smoking. If you're actively seeking back pain relief yet continuously smoke, it contradicts your efforts and hurts your progress.

Ibuprofen for Lower Back Pain is Not the Only Way

In this day and age, we're all so used to getting instant results. Even when it comes to illness or health concerns, it's not unlikely to want to get instant relief. However, by always reaching only for your trusted ibuprofen for lower back pain, you only manage the symptoms, not the root cause. Addressing the pain's primary source can provide more long-term comfort for people suffering from chronic back pain.

There are several triggering factors why you get low back pain, and smoking is one of them. Quitting your unhealthy habit can provide an improvement slowly as your body gets used to the healthy change. But one cause of low back pain that is often overlooked is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine.

Your upper cervical spine consists of the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2) bones in your neck area. Due to the location and function of these bones, they are prone to misalignments. An accident, injury, poor posture, weight gain, or even a sedentary lifestyle can all contribute to your upper cervical spine's misalignment. And even the slightest misalignment can trigger a whole bunch of health concerns, including low back pain.

When your upper cervical spine is misaligned, your whole spine tends to follow and compensate with the alignment set from the top. Therefore, it can affect the nerves, muscles, and tissues around it, which can cause pain and discomfort and trigger different symptoms, including low back pain. You will need a board-certified Upper Cervical chiropractor's help to adjust and correct the misalignments.

Restore Your Spine’s Health Naturally

Bringing back your spine's alignment, and balance also restores your body's natural healing capability. Upper Cervical Chiropractic  can help your bones return to proper alignment through safe, precise, and gentle corrections. Once correctly aligned, the pressure from your neck, head, and spine is relieved, freeing you from that worrisome low back pain.

Find the nearest Upper Cervical Chiropractic doctor today and get started with your Upper Cervical Chiropractic care to get the lasting pain relief you deserve.

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