Category: Spine | Author: Stefano Sinicropi | Date: March 30, 2026
We’ve talked about the negative health effects of smoking and tobacco-related products on the blog in the past, and a new study may add to the mounting evidence that smoking can be hard on your spine.
According to research out of Korea, smokers who use liquid-type e-cigarettes each day have up to a 1.42 times higher risk of developing a spinal disc herniation compared to non-smokers. The study, led by Professor Kwon-Ji-won from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Gangnam Severance Hospital and Professor Shin Jae-won from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Severance Hospital, examined the link between smoking habits and spinal disc herniation risk. The study involved over 3.25 million people over the age of 20 and was based on information provided by the National Health Insurance Service. The study focused on adults over the age of 20 who underwent national health screenings before being observed for approximately 3.5 years.
Participants were categorized into different categories:
- Non-smoking
- Conventional cigarette smoking
- Heated tobacco product smoking
- Liquid-type e-smoking
Only individuals who were specifically diagnosed with a spinal disc herniation by a doctor and received outpatient care at least twice or those with a hospitalization record were included in the analysis.
The results showed that all smoking groups had a higher risk of spinal disc herniation compared to the non-smoking group, and that switching from conventional cigarettes to e-cigarettes did not significantly reduce the risk of herniation. Compared to the non-smoking group, the risk of disc herniation was:
- 1.17 times higher for conventional cigarette smokers
- 1.15 times higher for liquid type e-cigarette users
- 1.13 times higher for heated tobacco product users
- 1.17 times higher for those who used both liquid-type and heated tobacco products
- 1.42 times higher for those who used e-cigarettes daily.
“This is the first nationwide cohort study to reevaluate the common notion that e-cigarettes are less harmful alternatives to combustible cigarettes in the field of spinal diseases,” said Professor Kwon-Ji-won. “It will serve as important evidence for future e-cigarette regulation policies, smoking cessation strategies, and patient education in clinical settings.”
So if you’re thinking of switching to a “safer” form of smoking product, know that almost all of these products put your spine in harm’s way compared to avoiding the habit. We’ve helped countless patients kick the habit and wean off cigarettes, and that’s something we can do for you if you’re working to prepare for a surgery or you simply want to have a stronger spine as you get older. For more information on how we can help you improve the health of your spine, connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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