Do you spend most of your day hunched over a desk or squished in an armchair? Are you constantly shifting from one leg to another, trying to stretch your legs and ease aches and pains? If the answer is yes, then your posture is probably not good. Sitting for long durations without proper support can lead to back and neck pain and chronic lower back aches. Poor posture can also negatively affect other aspects of your health that you might not have even realized. Read on to find out 4 surprising ways poor posture can affect your health.
Back Pain
Back pain can affect anyone at any time. It can be triggered by several factors, such as a car accident, lifting a heavy object, or a wrong sleeping position. If you experience chronic back pain, you may feel uneasy and impatient with small movements, such as shifting your sitting position to avoid back pain. The problem with bad posture is it can increase the risk of back pain due to the increased stress and pressure on your spine and back muscles.
Heartburn and Reflux
Heartburn is the sensation of acid in your esophagus. While heartburn is common and often due to unhealthy habits, it can also be a side effect of poor posture. When you have poor posture, your stomach is pushed into the wrong position, causing your stomach acid to be moved in the wrong direction. Due to this, you may experience heartburn. Bad posture can also lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is the regurgitation of stomach acid into your esophagus. This condition may cause heartburn, a burning sensation in your chest, and coughing.
Incontinence
Incontinence is the loss of control over your bladder and bowel. If you have poor posture, you may leak urine due to bladder pressure. Bladder pressure can be caused by strain on the bladder, the bladder is too full, or a combination of both. Chronic back pain, heartburn, and incontinence are common combinations. If your posture is causing stress on your bladder and you drink a lot of fluid, you may urinate when you are not even trying to.
Poor Sleep
Sleep is vital for your health and well-being. Sleep plays a crucial role in physical and psychological health. Sleep is essential for the body to repair itself, build strength and immunity, and stay mentally and physically fit. Bad posture can disrupt your sleep, causing you to wake up frequently throughout the night or to miss out on quality sleep altogether. If you suffer from poor posture, you may find it difficult to lie comfortably in bed. Worse, you could wake up with a stiff and aching back.
Conclusion
Getting back in shape will require a lifestyle change, especially if you spend most of your day sitting on a chair. Poor posture can cause several health problems, such as back pain, heartburn, incontinence, and poor sleep. Poor posture is often caused by excessive sitting at a desk while trying to stretch your legs.