Behavior That Harm Our Backs

• Being overweight can damage your spine
• Smoking causes back pain
• Overloading on coffee could be risky

These days back pain is a commonly occurring problem, even in younger people. The symptoms of back pain can result from various factors. By and large, the symptoms arise from the degenerative process of the spinal discs, which, as we get older, begin to degenerate and hold less water inside. Less water, in turn, causes inflexibility, poor disc function, and back pain. There are, however, other significant factors that elevate risk. Our behaviors can also put us at risk of back pain. Behaviors we may be unaware we are doing or it even from bad posture, a habit for which we are aware, but we still don’t correct them.

Excessive weight has clear effects on back pain. As the spine is the core of our body’s structure, it must continuously support our full weight. Our every posture uses our spine, whether we are standing, sitting, or walking, with the only exception being when we are sleeping, at which time our spines may finally rest. This means that the more excess weight we carry, the more our spine must support that weight, and the more symptoms of back pain there will be.

Weight considered to be above standard can be identified through the Body Mass Index (BMI). The formula to calculate BMI is = weight (kg) divided by height2 (m).

For example, suppose you weigh 80kg and are 175cm (1.75m) tall, then the formula = 80 / (1.75 x 1.75). Your BMI = 26.14. Now, let’s see where this BMI falls on the WHO criteria:

Body Mass Index criteria (set by the World Health Organization)

• Lower than 18.5, you are underweight
• Between 18.5-24.9, you are of normal weight
• Between 25-29.9, you have excess weight, but not obese
• Between 30-39.9, you are obese
• 40 and over, you are dangerously obese

This formula is very simple to use, so please take time to calculate your own. It will at least serve as a warning whether you are overweight or nearing it. Being overweight at any point is guaranteed not only to affect your spine, but also to put you at risk of other diseases. Therefore, it is up to you whether you allow these diseases and conditions to enter your life, or whether you keep them at bay by adapting your behaviors.

There are probably many people, especially smokers, who wonder how smoking can cause back pain. In fact, smokers can harm each part of their bodies as the functioning of various bodily systems relies on nourishment from blood and oxygen. If you are a smoker, the nicotine in tobacco causes problems in the vascular system, not allowing the oxygen and various nutrients to fully nourish the organs. This includes the smaller blood vessels which must provide nourishment to our spines. These problems result in spine and disc degeneration that occurs sooner than it should and brings about an increased risk for back pain.

In fact, coffee does not directly affect back pain symptoms. There are, however, numerous works of research that indicate overloading on caffeine, such as that found in coffee, increases the amount of calcium excreted in urine, leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis, which is an indirect cause that could lead to back pain.

If we ask how much coffee is considered an overload, there is no exact figure. It suffices to say that one to two cups per day, enough to give the body a pickup, is unlikely to be dangerous. However, if it is much more, then you should be mindful of your coffee consumption! Also, do not forget that caffeine is not only found in coffee, but also in tea, carbonated drinks, and energy drinks, etc. If you are someone who consumes a lot of these drinks in one day, you should take even more care of your health.

“Back pain experienced in day-to-day life mostly stems from aches in the back muscles. If treated properly, by adjusting to good behavior and posture, in most cases physical therapy alone is enough to improve the symptoms. Therefore, for better health, and to promote a fully functioning spine for longer, obese people should urgently lose weight, while smokers, on the other hand, should give up — starting today.”