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Did you know that low back pain can stem from all kinds of triggers? Some of these factors, such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and chronic stress, are obvious causes of low back pain. Many of the patients coming in to seek Oakland CA chiropractic in our office report these triggers. But, unknown to most people, there’s one more major contributor to a severe lower backache – and that’s no other than smoking. So let’s take a deeper dive into the effects of smoking, specifically on your lower back.
Cigarettes contain high amounts of nicotine. An average piece of cigarette contains roughly 10 to 12 mg of nicotine. In addition, while you will likely burn a significant fraction of that nicotine, you will still end up inhaling up to 1.8 mg. So, if you smoke about 20 sticks of cigarettes per day, you take in up to 36 mg of this harmful substance.
Dr. Melissa Crago, our lower back pain chiropractor in Oakland CA, is firmly against smoking and recommends our patients to quit or avoid it at all costs. Smoking can lead to many problems ranging from poor circulation to your vertebral discs to reduction of calcium absorption into your bones.
Unfortunately, this could mean trouble for your back. As the protective discs deteriorate, your spinal bones begin to rub on each other, causing you discomfort every time you move. Also, you might suffer from reduced bone quality, increasing your risks for problems such as osteoporosis.
On top of all that, smoking can also agitate your lungs, forcing you to cough. The coughing action may also add to the pressure on your already painful back.
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Aside from smoking, there are other potential triggers of lower back pain. They can increase your risk or exacerbate your condition, making you more and more susceptible to suffering. Good thing you can control these triggers by making minor lifestyle adjustments. So let’s discuss them one by one before you visit a lower back pain chiropractor in Oakland CA.
Apart from enhancing your chances of catching another potentially serious condition, obesity also puts undue pressure on your body, specifically your spine, bones, joints, and muscles. Therefore, it would be best to maintain a healthy weight by sticking to a good exercise routine, eating a balanced meal, and staying away from sugary and processed food products.
Your lower back pain should never be an excuse to maintain a sedentary lifestyle. In fact, your symptoms should encourage you to stay fit and active. Oakland CA chiropractic favors exercising for patients. Mild exercise comes in handy in dealing with low back pain. It also relieves muscle tension and helps you trim off excess inches off the waist.
Frequent and regular exercising also prevent premature spine degeneration and possibly lessen your chances of developing arthritis at an early age.
Chronic stress can leave devastating effects on your body, most especially your lower back. Stress stimulates the release of adrenaline and cortisol, which can result in involuntary muscle tightening, especially along the neck and spine. The prolonged tension in your muscles can eventually trigger back pain that doesn't go away quickly. Sometimes, you may need to seek the assistance of a massage therapist, acupuncturist, or an Oakland CA chiropractic doctor to experience relief.
Reducing your risks for back pain heavily involves addressing or minimizing your triggers. For example, if you’re a chain smoker and you notice recurring backaches, then it’s safe to assume that your pain might not just result from doing manual work or sitting in the office for hours. Instead, you may be suffering from excruciating and chronic back pain problems because of your smoking habits.
It’s crucial to make the necessary adjustments like keeping tabs on your weight, lessening or eliminating your consumption of nicotine-containing products, and managing your stress levels.
Other than that, you might also find it helpful to seek natural or medical remedies to address the source of your pain. Some of your likely options include the following:
Specific chiropractic care has risen to popularity thanks to the numerous positive feedback from patients. Studies prove its immense potential in resolving painful disorders and reducing risks for worrying diseases. For years, many patients have been going to a lower back pain chiropractor in Oakland CA to end their chronic backaches.
Specific chiropractic is among the leading procedures used to relieve recurring low back pain. The process involves assessing the spinal alignment (from neck to the bottom spine) and checking for possible changes in the vertebrae’s positions.
Research explains that even the slightest shifting of the spinal bones can result in serious problems, including pinched nerve roots, unleveled hips, compromised spinal health, and agonizing back pain.
The sooner you get your spinal alignment checked, the earlier you can see improvements in your overall well-being.
Get to know more about Oakland CA chiropractic as a natural approach to healing. You may book an appointment or call us at (510) 394-5035 to schedule your visit. We look forward to helping you restore your spinal health today!
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