Shillong: Doctors at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) have raised fresh concerns about the link between smoking and spinal health, warning that tobacco use may significantly increase the risk of developing a slipped disc.
The advisory follows a successful surgery conducted on a patient suffering from recurrent lumbar disc herniation.
A team led by spine surgeon Dr Bhaskar Borgohain performed a minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy, effectively relieving pressure on the S1 nerve root.
During the procedure, four large disc fragments were removed.
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Dr Borgohain explained that chemicals in cigarette smoke, particularly toxic hydrocarbons, may damage collagen fibres in the disc’s outer ring.
“This structural weakening makes spinal discs—especially in the lower back—more vulnerable to rupture or herniation,” he said.
Citing growing clinical evidence, NEIGRIHMS doctors have urged people to quit smoking, noting that doing so not only lowers the risk of spinal disorders but also promotes better musculoskeletal health overall.
