Mitchel Leavitt, MD, and his team studied CT scans of 182 patients, 34 percent of which were smokers. The researchers deemed discs as normal, mild, moderate or severe. Based on the analysis, researchers gave each disc a score from zero (normal) to three (severe), and a total cervical spine score ranging from zero to 15.
Here are four takeaways:
1. Nicotine abuse can cause microvascular disease, a disease of small blood vessels. Intervertebral discs rely on nourishment from microvasculature on the endplates of discs.
2. The study found smokers had more cervical degenerative disc disease, by an average of one point.
3. Dr. Leavitt said further research should consider the effects of additional lifestyle factors, like alcohol use, obesity and high-fat diets, on cervical degenerative disc disease.
4. Research already links the negative effects of smoking on the lumbar spine.
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