Habits That Contribute to Back Pain

More than 80 percent of adults will experience back pain at some time in their life, which can increase in severity over time. For many people, the discomfort can be triggered by an injury or accident, but some of the pain may be related to habits that are performed each day. If you want to improve your comfort and mobility, there are a few habits to avoid.

Poor Posture

Having bad posture may not seem like an issue, but it can put a strain on specific muscles in the body and contribute to stress on the spine. Over time, poor posture can alter the anatomical characteristics of your spine. You can reduce the risk of back injuries by performing exercises with the help of a chiropractor in Las Vegas.

Being Overweight

Although being overweight can increase your risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, it can also lead to back pain. If you have difficulty keeping your weight under control, it will begin to lead to lower back pain by shifting your center of gravity forward. Exercising and eating a healthy diet is necessary to alleviate back pain that you may experience. Make it a point to stay within 10 pounds of your ideal body weight for your height and gender. A sedentary lifestyle is also a leading cause of pain in the back due to a lack of blood flow to the area where you have discomfort.

Smoking

Many people are surprised to learn that smoking is a factor with back pain because the nicotine prevents blood flow from reaching the discs that cushion the spine. When there’s a lack of cushion present, you’ll begin to experience discomfort. Smoking cigarettes also prevent calcium from being absorbed in the body, which limits the amount of bone growth that occurs. If you suffer from a spinal injury and have a habit of smoking, it can take longer for the spine to heal and will gradually lead to increased pain levels.