Why Keeping Your Back Healthy is Vital for Overall Well-Being
Back pain is one of the most common health complaints in the world today. It can be caused by a variety of things, including injuries, poor posture, and stress. This is one of the reasons why so many people keep fit doing things like Pilates or HIIT.
Whilst back pain can often be treated with medication or surgery, it’s much wiser to keep your back healthy in order to prevent future problems. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of back health for your general well-being, and provide some tips to help you achieve it.
It Helps You Sleep Better
On average, most people need around eight hours of sleep each and every night. This is when our bodies heal and repair themselves. When you don’t get enough sleep, it can lead to all sorts of health problems including a weakened immune system, diabetes, weight gain, anxiety and depression. For this reason, getting a good night’s sleep is vital for our overall health and well-being. If your back is in pain, it’ll be difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep and experience quality sleep. This can lead to fatigue and make it even more difficult to manage your pain. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help improve your sleep when you have back pain:
- Use quality pillows to support your neck and back while you sleep
- Sleep on your side or on your stomach (if sleeping on your back makes your pain worse)
- Invest in a comfortable mattress that provides adequate support for your spine (e.g. memory foam)
For sleep issues (or any others) related to back pain, there are medical professionals who can help you. By visiting a spine doctor, you can receive surgical or non-surgical care or regenerative medicine. Thanks to advanced technology and research, modern surgery is less invasive and has a shorter recovery time. It’s easier than ever to gain an individualized, comprehensive treatment plan that promises a high success rate.
It Prevents Back Pain and Other Health Problems
As we said at the beginning, back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, and it’s a major contributor to missed workdays (creating a loss of income) and decreased productivity. There are many different causes of back pain, but some of the most common include:
- herniated discs
- degenerative disc disease
- spinal stenosis
- spondylolisthesis
These conditions can often be painful and debilitating, and they can also lead to other health issues such as musculoskeletal problems, digestive issues, and respiratory difficulties. By taking care of your back and keeping it healthy, you can avoid these issues and more.
It Safeguards Peoples’ Mental Health
There’s a close connection between our minds and our bodies. If we’re depressed we may feel lethargic and if we feel unwell we may feel emotionally low. When people become stressed, they often tense their neck and shoulder muscles. People who have low self-esteem often slouch, and many office employees have bad posture while they’re anxiously working at their desks. Over time, all of these issues can generate back problems.
Physical pain (especially when it’s chronic) can make people anxious, stressed, and depressed. These mental health conditions can further increase your pain levels and make them harder to manage. This is a never-ending cycle that becomes increasingly difficult to break out from. This is why prevention is better than cure, and why a healthy back can help stop these issues from developing in the first place.
It Helps You Live Your Daily Life
Your back is essential for everything you do in a day, and it’s something we often take for granted until it becomes an issue. We need healthy backs for picking up our baby or child, or when bending down to tie our shoes. It may be that you have a job that requires you to lift heavy objects or to twist and turn your body. In that scenario, a strong and healthy back will help protect you from future injuries and will enable you to perform your daily tasks.
If you’re pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, it’s really important to take care of your back. Carrying around the extra weight can put a lot of strain on your back, so it’s essential to make sure it’s as strong as possible beforehand. Additionally, childbirth can be easier if you have a strong and healthy back.
It Enables You to Exercise
Back injuries are especially common among people who don’t take care of their backs and who don’t engage in regular physical activity. We need daily exercise to keep us healthy, but this is something that becomes difficult if we become injured or ill. Some of the many benefits of being able to exercise include:
- weight loss
- improved mental health
- increased energy levels
- better sleep quality
- improved posture (meaning there’s less strain on our muscles and spines – which become better aligned)
If you’re dealing with a back injury, it’s important to seek professional help so that you can develop a plan for exercises that won’t further injure your back. Consider a low-impact sport like swimming, or using resistance bands. Even if you aren’t injured, seeing a chiropractor or physical therapist for regular adjustments can go a long way in preventing pain and other problems.
It Reduces Your Need for Medical Care
Regular exercise and stretching can help prevent back pain before it starts. By keeping your back in good condition, you’ll be less likely to suffer from issues that require doctor visits or surgery. In turn, this can reduce the need for expensive medical bills or time off work.
As you can see, it’s worth any amount of sacrifice and discipline in order to look after your back. In exchange for a healthy lifestyle and a decent bed, you’ll be able to sit, stand, walk and run without difficulty. Both your body and mind will reap the benefits, and you’ll be able to do all the things you need – both now and for many years to come.
