Back pain sucks, and it’s something the vast majority of us will have to deal with at some point in our lives. In fact, about 85 percent of people will have severe back pain for at least 4 to 5 days. Sometimes the aches are temporary, and can be traced to things like increased physical activity, he says. However, there are links between back pain and other pretty common—but seemingly unrelated factors, suggests recent research presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
# CigarettesOne more reason to stub out your smokes once and for all: The nasty habit could be beating up your back. About 17 percent of people diagnosed with nicotine dependence report low back pain, says lead study author Scott Shemory, M.D.
# DepressionAlmost 1 out of every 5 people with a depression disorder reports back pain, according to the study. But it’s not exactly clear whether depression actually causes the back pain, or if it’s the other way around. For instance, back pain itself may simply bum us out, which may bring on even on more serious depression
# BoozeYour buzz and back pain may go hand-in-hand. Around 15 percent of people who admitted to alcohol abuse also complained of low back pain, according to the study.
# Extra PoundsAround 17 percent of obese people in the study noted low back pain. The reason is simple: Extra weight can increase pressure on the spine.