Dealing With Back Pain? Try These 4 Lifestyle Changes To Feel Better

If you suffer from chronic back pain, life can seem unbearable at times. However, if you try to make the following lifestyle changes, you might find that you get some relief from your pain. Here are some of the things you can do.

Lose Weight

Losing weight may seem easier said than done, but dropping a few pounds will take some of the pressure off your back and spine, decreasing your pain. To lose weight, focus on eating a diet free from processed foods. Make sure your meals include lots of lean meats, vegetables and fruits. Stay away from simple carbohydrates such as pasta, and replace them with complex carbohydrates. 

Take Walks

An afternoon stroll or a walk after dinner is another way for you to ease your back pain. When you walk, you increase your blood circulation and strengthen your legs, which can provide better support to your back. There is also some evidence that walking will help your general mood, which can help you to cope more easily with your back pain.

Stop Smoking Cigarettes

If you smoke, you might be surprised to learn that smoking might affect the pain you are having in your back. When you smoke, your arteries constrict, which slows blood flow. That means that your back has a harder time getting oxygenated blood, which can result in discomfort. You may find that if you cut back on the cigarettes, your back feels a little better.

Smoking can also increase your chances of developing osteoporosis, which can make your bones brittle and weak. If this happens, the bones in your back will weaken, making the muscles in your back ache. Cutting off your tobacco habit will help your bones remain strong enough to support your back muscles.

Sleep on Your Back

You might not think that your sleeping position affects how your back feels, but it can. If you have back pain, the best position for you is to sleep on your back with your head elevated by a small pillow. If you can't sleep on your back, sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off of your spine.

Now that you have some things you can do to ease the pain in your back, give the above tips a try. Talk to your doctor, such as Pain Treatment Center, about a comprehensive pain management plan that can reduce your back pain even more.