Bit of a random snippet of info.
I was watching a mandatory manual handling refresher.
They mentioned that:
Syudies have found a link between smoking and back pain. One study in America concluded that smokers are 3 times more likely than non-smokers to develop chronic back pain.
This is thought to be because the brain pathways involved in addiction are also related to those implicated in the development of chronic pain, making smokers less resilient to the pain of back injury.
I thought it might be interesting in light of our repetitive and sometimes addictive behaviours, and the fact some struggle with pain. (I don't have chronic pain, I have some reduced sensitivity or at least can block it out.)
I guess it is also not helped by things like paracetamol giving people brain fog. I avoid painkillers.