Effects of Nicotine on Spinal Health

An experienced spinal surgeon who has been practicing for nearly 15 years, Constantine Toumbis, MD, is a partner at Citrus Spine Institute in Crystal River, Florida. In addition to his work at his practice, Dr. Constantine Toumbis networks with his peers and continues his professional education through membership in professional organizations such as the North American Spine Society (NASS), which periodically publishes research related to spinal health.

There are still 38 million Americans who regularly smoke, and NASS experts say that’s a problem when it comes to spinal health. Doctors regularly report that patients presenting with back pain often smoke either regular or electronic cigarettes. Research has shown that smoking elevates the risk of a person developing back pain, due to the effects of nicotine and its propensity to prevent blood flow to the spinal discs, which can lead to them breaking down. That’s why it’s very important that smokers who are experiencing back pain quickly begin efforts to quit the habit.

Not only does smoking cause back pain, it can also hamper the efforts of surgeons to treat it. Many surgeons will not perform spinal surgery on patients who smoke, because regular nicotine use negatively impacts the body’s healing processes.

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