According to a new study carried out by the Summa Health System center in Akron, Ohio (USA), although there are certain risk factors that tip the balance to suffer from bothersome low back pain, four of them are crucial and they have to do with our lifestyle . The 4 factors linked to this pain are:
Obesity: Obesity is undoubtedly the most obvious risk factor associated with back pain, since being overweight puts strain on all joints and the back itself. In addition, the extra pounds can cause these people to be less physically active, which only increases the pain.
Tobacco: Smoking can decrease blood flow , which also contributes to pain. In addition, a large number of studies have confirmed that cigarette smoking accelerates the degeneration of the spine in its lowest area.
Depression: Depression also contributes to pain and vice versa. Back pain can cause depression in the patient, so being aware that controlling our lifestyle and our mood by doing activities that bring us happiness will make us better manage pain. The experts highlighted that patients with depression feel up to four times more pain than those without it .
Alcohol: As with depression, increased low back pain also occurs in patients who overindulge on alcohol.
The experts reviewed the data of 26 million people , 1.2 million of them with low back pain, extracting the following points in common: of those with back pain, 16.5% were smokers, 15% were dependent drinkers , 17% were obese and those who suffered from depression represented 19%.
“This study of more than a million patients with low back pain reminds us of the many interrelated factors that can contribute to this common complaint ,” explains study co-author Jason Lipetz.
