Smoking and its effects on our body has been studied for years and will continue to be as long as people are addicted to cigarettes. Smoking can be directly linked to numerous diseases and is a risk factor for the development of many other health issues. Neuropraxia is a neural injury whose exact cause has yet to be determined. It's frequency should encourage anyone to be aware of its symptoms so that when it does occur, it is a less worrisome event.
Identification of Neuropraxia
Neuropraxia can also be found as "neurapraxia" and is a temporary paralysis of a nerve due to injury. There is no degeneration of the nerve, and the injury is usually caused from blunt trauma, ischemia or compression. Recovery is complete and can take minutes or up to two weeks. An example of neuropraxia would be the tingling and numbness felt after hitting your "funny bone".
Effects and Treatment
Everyone has experienced neuropraxia at some point. The tingling associated with a foot "falling asleep" or numbness in your hand after having slept on your arm for a prolonged period are both examples of neuropraxia. Other symptoms include pain, weakness and burning, all of which resolve completely in a short period of time. If treatment is necessary, splinting may help as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to lessen discomfort.
Considerations
Smoking is not considered to be a cause of neuropraxia. Smoking does affect many organs of the body and is considered a risk factor for multiple sclerosis, a disease in which nerves deteriorate over time. However, no studies can be found directly linking smoking with neuropraxia and there is no link between neuropraxia and multiple sclerosis.
Effects of Smoking
According to the Centers for Disease Control, smoking is the cause of one in every five deaths in the United States. It is directly linked to nearly a dozen different types of cancer and causes coronary artery disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. For postmenopausal women, smoking is linked to reduced bone density, which increases their risks for osteoporosis and fractures.
Theories/Speculation
Though no studies exist linking smoking and neuropraxia, smoking is a cause of osteoporosis and fractures, as previously mentioned. According to the "FreeMD" medical dictionary, fractures and dislocations are associated with neuropraxia. This information is not enough to claim there is a connection between neuropraxia and smoking, however, quitting smoking is one way to eliminate the potential for that risk.
