Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

In “Bad Habits,” Ed Sheeran sings how his poor choices always lead him back to his femme fatale, noting that his “bad habits lead to you.” Of course, bad habits can lead to plenty of other things, and in our line of work, we oftentimes have to help patients get their spine health back on track in the wake of some bad daily habits. But which habits can be hard on your spine? In today’s blog, we explore how certain bad habits can lead to spine pain if you’re not careful.

Bad Habits Lead To Back Pain

If you’re dealing with new or chronic back pain, take a closer look at your daily life to see if any of these habits may actually be the catalyst for your discomfort. Here’s a look at some of the most common bad habits that lead to new or worsening back pain.

• Poor Posture – Perhaps the most common bad habit that leads to back pain is poor posture. If you’re hunched, slouched or in a position where your spine is out of an ideal alignment, different areas of your spine will have to handle an increased amount of stress. In the short-term, this stress increase won’t do much to damage your spine, but if you always have poor posture in your car or at the office, all those years of stress will add up and can take a toll on your spine. If you take anything away from this blog, strive to be more cognizant of your posture throughout the day and make adjustments when you notice that you’re hunched or slouching.
• Smoking – Although smoking is less prevalent today than it was in the 70’s and 80’s, plenty of people still use tobacco products, and that can take a toll on their spine. Smoking leads to the constriction of blood vessels, making it more difficult for healthy, oxygenated blood to reach key structures in your spine. Smoking increases your risk of other health conditions like cancer, stroke and heart disease, but it can also exacerbate disc degeneration or delay healing following a spinal strain or tissue tear.
• Bad Diet – As we’ve talked about in previous blogs, vitamin deficiencies can be the driving force behind your back pain. Certain vitamins play a key role in processes like calcium absorption, nerve regeneration and soft tissue repair, so if your diet is lacking nutritional value, your back can suffer. Moreover, a poor diet can also lead to weight gain, and this excess weight puts additional strain on your spine when you move. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of spinal disc degeneration and joint problems, so be mindful of your diet and work towards a healthier weight.
• Inactivity –  Finally, living a sedentary lifestyle can be incredibly hard on your back. Movement and exercise can feel stressful in the moment, but oftentimes these actions result in healthy stress being put on your spine. This healthy stress helps tissues remain strong, preserves range of motion and helps maintain function in your spine. Conversely, being inactive can exacerbate tissue weakening and muscle atrophy. Being overly protective of your spine can be counterintuitive to long-term spine health, so make it a point to seek out regular exercise and be active each and every day.

If you need help overcoming pain that is the result of one or more of these bad habits, connect with a spine specialist and figure out a plan for overcoming the issues you’re facing. In the greater Twin Cities area, we hope you’ll connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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