get up and get moving! Find a way to put exercise into your daily activities. Not only will it help keep your spine healthy, it will also help you shed those unwanted pounds and feel great, too!
4 – Ignoring the Pain
None of us like going to the doctor, but persistent back pain should not be ignored. If you suffer from persistent, chronic, or recurring back pain, see your doctor. In most cases, there is an easy, non-surgical treatment that can return you to a pain-free life. However, if left untreated or allowed to progress, back pain can lead to serious and severe disability.
RELATED: 5 Remedies for Joint & Back Pain
5 – Smoking Tobacco
Among the many harmful effects of cigarette smoking on the body, early and more severe degeneration of the back is getting more and more attention. Nicotine — in any form — blocks the transport of oxygen and important nutrients to the spine’s discs. Starved of oxygen, the discs are much less able to repair themselves and tend to collapse at a much earlier age than is seen in non-smokers. This painful collapse — degenerative disc disease — can lead to chronic back pain. Moreover, should any surgery be needed, smokers have been found to have much slower healing times and a high rate of failure to heal.
