Lower back pain can be irritating at best and debilitating at worse. For some, simple lifestyle changes may make a huge difference.

Of all the parts of the body smoking can damage, the back doesn't seem like it would be one of them. Many smokers with lower back arthritis, however, may beg to differ. Smokers with this condition may not respond as well to treatment as nonsmokers.

There are a lot of obvious reasons to quit smoking. But a lesser known reason to quit may be to help with back pain during treatment for spine issues.

Nicotine doesn’t help pain—it actually makes it worse. Patients with spinal disorders, who quit smoking during treatment, reported less back pain after quitting.

A little over half a century ago, cigarettes were not seen as a danger. Some doctors even recommended them. Today, we know that cigarettes are linked to a variety of health problems, including arthritis.