Spondylosis - all about it
Young people are now suffering from spondylosis due to sedentary lifestyle, sitting for long hours in front of a computer screen and not eating healthy foods.’
Here are the reasons that lead to this condition.
Lifestyle factors: One of the most common causes for spondylosis is a sedentary lifestyle. Very different from our elders, the lifestyle we lead entails sitting for long hours, eating junk food, working on laptops or computers for long hours and not exercising. All this put together greatly increases our risk of suffering from the disease.
Lack of vitamins: Not eating healthy and nutritious foods is another leading cause. Especially the lack of essential vitamins like Vitamin D and B12 leads to the degradation of bone and reduces the repair process.
Lack of essential minerals: Minerals like calcium and foods containing proteins are extremely important for bone and muscle strength. Not having foods that contain these minerals, smoking and eating junk food can not only deplete the amount of these vitamins in your body, but can also inhibit your body from absorbing calcium and proteins from the foods you eat.
Sitting for long hours: As per experts, sitting is the new smoking – making it as damaging as the habit itself. But apart from that sitting makes your body sluggish and puts immense strain on the bones of your body, especially your spinal column. This, combined with other unhealthy habits leads to the onset of spondylosis.
Smoking: Smoking damages your body in innumerable ways, and one such way is that it makes your bones weak by leeching the calcium out of it. Smoking also reduces blood flow to the various parts of your body and increases the chances of you suffering from spondylosis.
Hypertension: Hypertension can also lead to early back problems and eventually spondylosis.
Dehydration: Your intervertebral disc (the spongy mass present between each vertibrae) consists of approximately 80% water, therefore keeping the body well hydrated by drinking water regularly is important to nourish the spinal discs and help them keep healthy.
Obesity: Obese increase the risk of back pain since the extra weight pulls the pelvis forward and strains the lower back causing lower back pain. Apart from that, overweight people often suffer from fatigue and shortness of breath which causes them to avoid regular physical activity, only making matters worse.
Genetics: Spondylosis is partly related to genetic predisposition and in some cases injury to the back and neck.
How you can prevent it:
Taking short frequent breaks while working on the computer. What you need to do is sit up straight and stretch your back and leg muscles every 10-15 minutes. standing up, walking around and stretching every hour is also a good way to relieve the strain on your back.
Make sure the top of your computer screen is at eye level and you adopt a good sitting posture.
It is essential that you stop smoking.
When you sleep make sure your spine is straight from you head to the pelvic region. Your pillow should be used to support the head so that it does not drop below the shoulder. more