disc degeneration is most common in smokers, once degeneration occurs it lead to prolapse. in smokers end arteritis will block the small blood vessels, in back bones same thing will happen it will reduce nutrition to disc

Hi, There are various studies which have been done both in the US and UK that have shown an association with low back pain,disc prolapse and smoking. The likely mechanism being that addiction and pain pathways are the same . Second is the same factors that cause atherosclerosis and damage to blood vessels when you smoke also causes damage to the disc.