It is not always necessity to think about different illnesses and
conditions when you have a back pain. Even healthiest individuals can
experience this discomforts in everyday life. Read the article and you
may be a bit surprised about some causes of your back pain.
Sleeping on an old mattress
A
good mattress lasts eight to ten years. If you have not replaced yours
for more than 10 years chances are that your spine is not getting the
support it needs. Replace your old one with mattress that is not too
hard and even not too soft. The curves of your back won’t sink in and
won’t offer enough support.
Carrying a huge bag
If
you are someone who likes to carry around your home, your back won’t be
grateful. Carrying a heavy bag on a side of your shoulder causes your
body to become imbalanced, getting your spine out of balance too. Switch
to a lighter bag. Your purse with everything in it should weigh no more
than ten percent of your body weight.
Wearing stilettos or flats
Heels
which are too high for you force you to arch your back, putting stress
on your joints. Flats can be bad for you as well, depending on your foot
type. Sandals without a supportive back do damage, causing your feet to
move from side to side and distributing your body weight unevenly.
Everyone has an ideal heel height. Find yours.
Holding a grudge
Researchers
at one university found that people who practice forgiveness experience
fewer feelings of resentment, depression, anger and fewer aches and
pains. Your emotions, muscle tension and thoughts can directly influence
the strength of your pain signals. Not only are grudges bad for you
physically, they do not do much for you emotionally either.
Sitting all day
Bad
news for all of you with a desk job! It is bad for your health. Sitting
around all day may feel nice, but most of you do not maintain proper
posture while sitting in front of a computer all day, causing weakness
of back muscles because of inactivity. Sitting also puts 50 percent more
pressure on your spine than standing does. If your office does not get
you a standing desk to help keep your core and back muscles engaged all
the time, lean back throughout your day so you are sitting at a 130
degree angle to reduce compression of the discs in the spine. Finally,
be sure your head is straight, not straining forward, when using the
comp.
Stressing out
If you are stressed out, your
whole body is also stressed including the muscles in your neck and back
that contract and clench up. And if you keep stressing, those tight
muscles do not get a chance to relax, causing pain. There are a lot of
proven ways to lower your stress levels including exercise, meditation
and a warm bath.
Skipping workouts
Exercise builds
muscle tone that is vital for supporting your back. When you do not get
enough of it, you experience stiffness, weakened muscles and your spinal
discs become degenerated. Workouts that strengthen the back and abdomen
are your best choice.
Eating too much junk food
Not
surprisingly, an intake of high calorie and low nutrient food leads to
weight gain. That weight gain can put a load on your back. Excess weight
around the midsection causes the pelvis to pull forward, creating
stress for the back. Overweight individuals are at an increased risk of
osteoarthritis. Dropping even 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can
improve your back condition.