Occasional but acute neck and back pain can come in the way of leading a healthy lifestyle. Imagine that you're scheduled for a party on one Friday night with your office colleagues but have to skip the event due to some unforeseen pain in your neck. Sure, you'd regret not attending the party, but when that happens too often, friends or colleagues can choose to give up on inviting you, presuming your absence. It hurts to miss out on all the fun stuff for some unannounced ailment.
The reasons behind the pain and discomfort can vary, but in most cases, it boils down to the following reasons:
Stress
Our bodies can suffer due to stress in multiple ways. Some repetitive spells of stress can lead to musculoskeletal issues, of which neck and back pain are the most common ailments. Stress releases hormones that increase blood supply and tighten our muscles around the spine and affect breathing. This causes muscle spasms, acute pain and affects a person's lifestyle. It's impractical to do away with stress in our lives, so a few lifestyle changes and postures can help reduce the frequency of your neck and back pain.
Poor sleeping and sitting posture
There's nothing as basic as the correct alignment of your spine. When you sit for work on your chair and slouch when looking at your computer screen, you stress your spine and force it to move away from its natural healthy position. Slouching or sitting in a hunched position can damage the spine's natural curve and can lead to diseases like arthritis in the long run. Incorrect posture can stress your cervical spine and coerce your neck and back muscles. Some people wake up with bad back or neck pain after what they think was a good night of sleep. In such cases, it's best to see a neck and back specialist understand where you might be going wrong with your posture.
Weak muscles
Our joints and muscles need some movement to stay in a fit and active condition. Without any exercise, the muscles of our body become frail and lose endurance. This can also make you reluctant to exercise in the future. But the trick is to keep on with working out because that delivers oxygen and nutrients to the muscles of your body. This also improves your cardiovascular health and consequently increases stamina.
Overweight
Extra body weight can lead to joint misalignments. This can also lead to pinched nerves, in which case the pain becomes excruciating. For people who are overweight or obese, the spine is forced to take in extra weight, which may lead to some structural compromise and injury. Unhealthy posture and uneven weight distribution are not uncommon and can lead to spine osteoarthritis, spondylosis, etc. Overweight people also run the risks of herniated discs and spinal arthritis.
Poor eating habits
A balanced diet with good nutritional value can help prevent neck and back pain. The bones, muscles, and spine structure need proper nutrition daily to support the rest of the body. Calcium, magnesium, vitamin D3, etc., help keep the body in its right position and shape. When people resort to junk food or food containing preservatives, it leads to weaker bones and poor immunity. It also contributes to straining the neck and spinal area.
Conclusion
Poor exercise forms, wrong footwear, dehydration, etc., can all lead to neck and back problems if not corrected. So seek assistance when needed and set yourself on a proper lifestyle ASAP!
