Smoking Linked to Back Pain in Children

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, including 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 also supported by recent evidence
(See "Another Reason Not to Smoke," Aug. 1999) and a study that appeared in the December
1 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 previous 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, isn't it time to lead ourselves and our children down a healthier path?

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.