Acute or chronic, back pain can be agony. It affects almost everyone at some time and it has a range of causes. It is not a disease in itself, but a symptom of a problem. Mostly, back pain is caused by the problem with the spinal column. It can be disk degeneration, wearing down of the vertebrae joints, a number of spine-related diseases such as scoliosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and many others. Various injuries can cause back pain as well. But, at times, our back pain is caused by what we eat, by our diet and our lifestyle.
Obesity and back pain
Back pain is a common complaint heard from obese people. All the extra weight puts significant pressure on the spine and increases the risk for developing one of many serious spine problems. Extra weight is particularly dangerous, and painful, with the herniated disk and degenerative disk disease. Obesity is usually accompanied with sedentary lifestyle, and the lack of muscles to support the spine increases the danger of one of the chronic spine diseases.
Back pain from heartburn
Back pain is sometimes caused by acute attack of heartburn. Heartburn is caused by a range of foods which irritate the valve between the esophagus and stomach. The valve stays opened and allows the food and stomach acid to back up into the esophagus. The pain is normally felt in the chest and throat, but it is sometimes reflected to the lower back.
Indigestion and back pain
Indigestion and gas can cause bloating and pain in the abdomen which radiates to the lower back. They are most commonly caused by poor diet or food intolerance. Finding out which food causes discomfort and eliminating it from the diet greatly reduces the pain in the abdomen and lower back.
Back pain is just one of many health issues we suffer because of poor diet. Too much fat and sugar and not enough of fresh fruits and vegetables create perfect condition for developing a range of diseases. If we do not provide our system with a good balance of nutrients, it lacks energy to function and fight diseases. Balanced nutrition, healthy weight and regular exercise keep body in the peak condition to stay healthy, and to be better equipped to cope with the diseases when they happen.
