The disease occurs when the spinal canal narrows, putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. This condition often develops with age. However, researchers assessed the narrowing of nicotine to blood flow and the promotion of inflammation is believed to contribute to the process.
The researchers examined the data of 331,941 construction workers who are part of a national health register in Sweden. Workers followed an average of more than three decades, beginning as they were 30 years old and 1,623 of whom eventually underwent surgery for lumbar spine stenosis.
The study found, compared to people who did not smoke, heavy smokers who had at least 15 cigarettes a day were 46 percent more likely to have this spine surgery. For heavy smokers who have up to 14 cigarettes a day, the risks increase by 31 percent, while former smokers have a 13 percent higher chance of surgery.
