Ditch these habits that cause back pain!
Back pain is a malady that can affect over 80% of people at some point during their lives states the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Many a time, back pain is the result of repeated actions that place stress on the body. Prevent back pain by getting rid of these bad habits.
Lifting the wrong way
When you lift an object, especially a heavy one, back injuries are likely to result. The right way to lift is to bend your knees and rely on the power of your legs and holding the weight close to your body. Make sure your head is down and back kept straight. Do not twist.
When you smoke, the nicotine reduces the blood flow to the disks that are cushioning your vertebrae, this speeds up degeneration. When you smoke, this also reduces the level of calcium absorption in your body and stops new bone growth. This could make you end up with osteoporosis that makes bones fragile and brittle. For heavy smokers, the coughing that results can increase back pain.
Try to maintain your ideal weight and keep your weight under control. Excess weight especially in the mid-section can be quite detrimental to your back as this pushes your entire center of gravity forward and strains the back muscles.
Lack of calcium and Vitamin D
Both these nutrients are very important to strengthen the bones. In case, there is not adequate Vitamin D and calcium in your diet, this may also cause back pain.
When your posture is poor, this strains your back muscles. In fact, this may even go to the extent of changing the anatomical characteristics of the spine. To protect your back, when you stand, keep your knees slightly bent. Make sure you also keep one foot forward to relieve the pressure from the lower back and cut down back strain.