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Cigarette Smoking & Cervical Disc Disease

Cigarette Smoking & Cervical Disc Disease thumbnail
Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for cervical disc disease.

If you are experiencing pain in your neck and arm, or tingles like your neck and arm are falling asleep, you could have cervical disc disease. Cigarette smoking can contribute to it and complicate your recovery.

  1. Cervical Disc Disease

    • Cervical disc disease occurs when you experience damage to the discs that cushion your cervical vertebrae. The discs can rupture or bulge and the displaced portion of the disc can put pressure on your spinal cord and other nerves.

    Causes

    • Cervical disc disease is caused when your intervertebral discs degenerate. The discs get smaller and less flexible, making them more prone to rupture.

    Risk Factors

    • Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for cervical disc disease, along with aging and repetitive motions.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for cervical disc disease includes anti-inflammatory medication and surgery to remove either part or all of the damaged disc.

    Considerations

    • Cigarette smoking can also complicate your recovery from surgery to treat cervical disc disease. It can cause your progress to be slower or your healing to be less complete.

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References

  • Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of lost in translation) (Gordana Adamovic-Mladenovic

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