Even if you've been confined to a deserted island for 50 years,
you're no doubt aware of the dangers of smoking. Overwhelming
evidence links smoking to terminal diseases (including lung
cancer and emphysema) and the risk of premature death. That
evidence includes several recent studies mentioned in this
publication. (See "Long-Term Smoking Linked to Arthritis,"
Oct. 1999, and "Cigars Just as Dangerous as Cigarettes,"
Dec. 1999.)
Smoking
may also influence back pain, a suggestion again supported
by recent evidence (See "Another Reason Not to Smoke,"
Aug. 1999) and a study that appeared in the December 1st issue
of Spine. Students from three high schools in Montreal,
Canada were monitored for one year to evaluate the incidence
of low back pain (LBP) and its potential association with
smoking.
Back pain (pain occurring at least once a week in the revious
six months) was twice as likely in smokers than nonsmokers.
Additionally, moderate-to-heavy smokers (25 or more cigarettes
per week) experienced more pain than light-to-moderate smokers
(1-25 cigarettes per week).
Far too many people suffer from low back pain, and far too
many people continue to smoke despite the warnings. With increasing
numbers of our children smoking and suffering from back pain,
isnšt it time to lead ourselves and our children down a healthier
path?
Reference:
Feldman DE, Rossignol M, Shrier I, et al. Smoking: a risk
factor for the development of low back pain in adolescents.
Spine, Dec. 1, 1999: Vol. 24, No. 3, pp2492-96.
For more information on childhood conditions, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/childhood.html
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