One of the most common ailments to aging is back pain. It makes sense: as gravity works on your skeleton for decades, eventually your bones are going to react to it. But are there ways to prevent back pain in the long run? What can you do right now to alleviate some of the potential issues?
Eating
Surprisingly, one of the biggest reasons you are feeling back pain doesn’t have to do with your body’s position, but what you are consuming. Foods that are strong in vitamins and minerals—specifically calcium, can increase your bone density. This prevents further damage to your bones, allowing you to do more in your day-to-day life.
Additionally, eating bad food that increases weight gain can be really bad for your back. Your body will have more to carry, resulting in gravity working on your body even harder. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating the right foods and avoiding weight gain can reduce the chance you’ll have lifelong back problems.
Sleeping
Are you sleeping well at night? If not, it might be a result of the materials you are sleeping on, and not a result of your pre-sleep habits. People who experience back pains often don’t realize that they can be caused by an uncomfortable, lumpy, and poor mattress. While you may not realize it, a bad mattress can cost you more than buying a new one in the first place.
Find the right mattress for you. You may need one that is customized to your specific needs. Other people may just need to buy a new one—and that’s it. Experiment with different companies and see what works for you.
Poor Posture
Aside from the way you are positioned at night, the way you walk around throughout your day can have dramatic long-term effects on the health of your back. Poor posture can start for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is walking around with a backpack all day.
On top of this, computer jobs that involve a lot of hunching over and sitting uprightly can do a lot of damage. While there isn’t much you can do to stop your job, you can make a conscious effort to stand up or sit up straight, and cushion your back over time.
While these tasks may not seem like they would do anything, they can prevent a lot of problems over time. Don’t be afraid to make changes in your life when necessary.
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