BACKing up!

The past week has not been an easy one. I have been nursing a severely strained and sore back. And after I called my hubby over to help me up off the couch one day, it occurred to me: Our backs just don't get enough credit. If you think about it, the health of our backs is incredibly important to our overall well being.

Not only do we have muscles and nerves running the gamut of our backs but we also have the vertebrae and discs that make up our spine. If these are not functioning properly, our body's movement can be seriously hindered. Can you imagine if you didn't have a spine? A strong spine is the difference between looking someone in the face and eating dinner with the dog. Then you have what is arguably the most important part of the central nervous system: the spinal cord. The spinal cord works with our brain to send those signals back and forth that keep our bodies moving. If this cord becomes damaged, movement in our bodies can cease permanently.

My family is plagued with back problems. I've seen many family members slow down because of the condition of our backs. Think about to the last time you may have hurt your back. You may have had a hard time sitting, standing, walking, etc. There are those out there that are plagued with this every single day! Another issue is that because our backs can be so complex, it can be difficult to diagnose and treat back problems. There are people out there that spend their lives in chronic pain because of their backs. Sometimes doctors cannot treat patients and their back problems because the risks of doing more damage are too high.

Being good to our backs is incredibly important. I did a little digging and found some great tips to help keep our backs in tip-top shape (some of which I found surprising):

Don't smoke: People who smoke are more likely to have lower back pain and over 80% more likely to develop degenerative disc disease than non-smokers.

Exercise properly: Exercise provides the double-benefit of helping your back heal more quickly and helping prevent a recurrence of the back pain. A focused exercise program is a critical part of almost any back pain treatment, and should include a combination of stretching, strengthening and low-impact aerobic exercise. Exercise is important to continue even after you feel better to prevent future bouts of back pain.

Watch what you eat. Eat a healthy and nutritious diet that is very essential to build the repair and defense mechanisms of the body.

Stand up straight. Always maintain a good posture during rest, travel or work to avoid strain and pressure to your back.

Sleep like a baby. Design your sleeping postures in such a way so as to avoid sleeping on your stomach because that strains the neck and eventually your back. You can also twist and sleep on the sides but never on your stomach.

Stay hydrated. Maintain good habits like drinking eight glasses of water daily. This will at least make you get up and complete a set of healthy routine you have set for yourself and at the same cause physical activity that is helpful for your back.

Lift safely. Avoid lifting heavy things as it can put a great deal of pressure on your back. So always try putting the pressure on your legs and bend your knee to lift heavy objects.

Hold the phone. Never rest your phone between the neck and shoulder as this can also strain your back.

Be proactive with your back. Always go for regular spine check ups to prevent any back problem, especially when you are under a lot of stress, pregnant or suffering the effects of an accident or trauma.

There are many, many other tip out there that can help for a sore back. My most important piece of advice is to see a doctor when you suspect a problem. If you already have a back issue, always double check before you begin any kind of stretching or other exercise as it can make the problem worse. Love your back properly and it will love you in return!