Chiropractic therapy does a lot to manage pain and improve spinal health, but did you know there are small, simple changes you can make today to improve your health?
People have begun to acknowledge that their lifestyle plays a significant role in their overall health and wellness.
If you suffer from chronic back pain, call the team of experienced Lithia Springs Chiropractors at AICA to schedule a consultation.
Improve Your Spinal Health
Diet, exercise, and other habits can either promote a healthy spine, or they can be detrimental to you spinal health.
Keep reading to learn three small lifestyle changes you can start implementing today for a stronger, healthier tomorrow.
Get Moving!
The average American spends the majority of his or her waking in a seated position.
Whether you spend your day sitting in front of a computer or your evenings watching TV, the result is the same: a heightened risk for a variety of health issues.
These include increased risk for various chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and even certain forms of cancer.
An inactive lifestyle also leads to back problems, thanks to bone loss and the weight gain that typically accompanies inactivity. Fortunately, changing this is as simple as creating more opportunities for movement each day.
This takes the form of both formal exercise and moving around more throughout your day. Increasing your overall activity goes a long way toward improving your health.
Strength-Building Exercise
Exercise comes with an astonishing variety of health benefits:
- Alleviates depression and balances mood
- Improves blood pressure
- Enhances immune system function
- Lowers cholesterol
- Lowers risk of numerous diseases, from cancer to diabetes
There are many more examples, but this gives you a good idea of the health benefits of exercise. One item in particular, though, is particularly important for spinal health, and that is strength-building exercise.
Weight training, walking, hiking, and dancing are all excellent examples of weight-bearing exercise. Swimming and bicycling, though great forms of exercise, do not qualify as weight-bearing exercises.
Incorporate a mixture of the two, with a goal of logging at least two hours of aerobic activity each week.
Before embarking on an exercise program, talk to your primary care physician, especially if you have any health issues.
Get More Sleep
Believe it or not, this may be the most difficult item on this list for many people to accomplish.
What’s more, it’s very hard to quantify how much sleep is enough sleep, because there is not a one-size-fits-all answer.
Eight hours a night is the standard, but some people need more, while others need less. For example, children continue to need nine to 10 hours of sleep each night through their teens.
Sleep is when our bodies renew and restore. Damaged cells repair themselves as we sleep, improving both mental and physical functions.
Regular breaks throughout the day also help revive you. Try meditation, which is a powerful tool to improve mental health and takes only 10 or 15 minutes a day to be effective.
Contact AICA Lithia Springs To Schedule A Consultation
You can learn more information about spinal health or schedule a consultation with our Lithia Springs Chiropractic Clinic by calling 404-602-0388.