Have you ever wondered; “Why does my back hurt?” If you are one of the many people that suffer from back pain, you may not be aware of some of the things you do daily that could be contributing to your condition.
According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, there are 26 million of Americans between the ages of 20-64 who suffer from frequent back pain. But for those who do not have a diagnosed issue with their back, finding a source is perplexing. Your back pain could be caused by one of the reasons below.
Back Hurt Due to Stress?
Are you shoulders tense? Do you suffer from headaches? Does your back pain occur over specific periods, then disappear? Have you had any changes to your sleep pattern? Has anything changed in your personal life? Has anything changed in your professional life?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then stress could be the cause of your back pain. Stress is known to exhibit and manifest itself in the body in different ways. Tension form a workload or life that is too full can result in back pain. To combat this, there are several ways to alleviate stress, including stretching, taking a walk or working on a hobby that you enjoy. Releasing stress and tension may help to reduce pain that you feel in your back.
Why Does My Back Hurt? Check Your Diet
The more weight that you carry on your body, the more likely you are to have back pain. So a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables is essential to keeping your body properly maintained, and can lead to less pain overall. Part of your diet to pay attention to is foods that can cause inflammation. This includes: some legumes, processed foods, sugar, dairy, refined flour, artificial sweetener and saturated fats.
The difficult thing is that specific foods interact with people differently. A key step in identifying which foods cause inflammation in your body is to track foods and write down how you feel when you eat them. Make sure to consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
An essential part of any diet is to remain properly hydrated by drinking the essential amount of water. Experts say it is optimal to drink half of your body weight in water each day. So, if you weigh 200 lbs., make sure to drink at least 100 oz. of water per day. Some of the easiest ways to track your water intake is using smartphones apps that send you a notification every so often.
Sitting or Standing Too Long Causes Back Pain
An Annals of Internal Medicine study found that, no matter how much you exercise, if you sit for long periods of time, you could be at risk for early death. Additionally, if you sit for more than eight hours a day, you are putting a lot of strain on the discs in your back. So, if you work at a desk all day, there are a few things that you can do each day to alleviate your back pain. Try utilizing a standing desk, so you have the flexibility of either sitting or standing while working. If a standing desk is not an option at your workplace, an optimal goal is to get up out of your chair and get moving every 30 minutes. This helps your muscles loosen up and not be so stiff.
Shoes & Bras Cause Back Pain
The shoes that you wear every day could help or harm your back pain. An excellent supportive shoe that supports proper alignment can make all the difference if you have back pain. If you wear shoes that do not give you adequate support, you could be hurting the arch of your feet and ,in turn, also hurting your back. Types of shoes that can also contribute to back pain include high heels and flip-flops.
For women, one of the keys to preventing continuous back pain is to make sure you have a properly fitting bra. To ensure that you have a well-fitting bra you need to have a consultation with a bra fitter who will measure your band and cup size.
Although, it is not conclusive that bras can prevent back pain, they can promote better posture, which can help to make sure your back is aligned correctly.
Bad Mattress & Back Pain
Do you wake up in the morning with an aching back? Your bed could be the culprit for your back pain. A mattress that does not provide adequate support for your body during the night can leave you waking up in pain. Experts say the best type of mattress to support your back is a medium- firm mattress. A good bed keeps your spine, neck, head and shoulders properly aligned while you sleep. If you think your mattress might be the problem, there are a variety of mattress toppers you can buy for several hundred dollars to give you support that your back may need to keep your body healthy.
Why Does My Back Hurt and How Do I Fix It?
To summarize, “why your back hurts” or your particular condition may be the result of many things and only a doctor can tell you what may be the root of your chronic condition. However, getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, meditation for stress and just living an all around healthier lifestyle are great preventative measures. Not just for back pain, but for many chronic conditions collectively.
Do you have persistent back pain? What have you done to feel better?
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