Let's Prevent Lumbago! Everyday Tips II.
If we wanted to be ironic, we could bring up the old saying about why things that are good are surely unhealthy. But unfortunately, in our case, we have to set the joke aside: smoking and obesity actually increase the vulnerability of our spine. But what is the connection between them?
Smoking
In the case of cigarettes, the cause lies in the phenomenon where nicotine affects the elasticity of the blood vessels, and the carbon monoxide in the smoke causes a reduction in oxygen supply to the tissues. Nicotine constricts the middle muscular layer of the vessel walls, resulting in the narrowing of the vessels. Naturally, this narrowing leads to decreased blood supply to the surrounding tissues. Intervertebral discs do not have their own blood circulation; they obtain nutrients from the surrounding tissues. However, cigarettes damage the blood supply to these tissues, thus reducing the regenerative capacity of the intervertebral discs.
Obesity
Excess weight acts as a greater load on the intervertebral discs than normal, which promotes and accelerates their degeneration and flattening, a natural phenomenon that occurs with aging. The loss of fluid in the intervertebral discs and the resulting flattening is the precursor to the development of lumbago, as the facet joints slide closer together, increasing the risk of a possible nerve pinching.
So if we are struggling with lumbago,
it is worth considering quitting smoking and it is also time to get rid of our excess pounds!
