Risk factors

Factors that can increase your risk of a herniated disk include:

• Weight. Excess body weight causes extra stress on the disks in your lower back.
• Occupation. People with physically demanding jobs have a greater risk of back problems. Repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing, bending sideways and twisting also can increase your risk of a herniated disk.
• Genetics. Some people inherit a predisposition to developing a herniated disk.
• Smoking. It's thought that smoking lessens the oxygen supply to the disk, causing it to break down more quickly.