Many people have jobs that require long
hours in front of a computer. Plus, thanks to phones, tablets and other forms
of daily screen use, more and more people sit incorrectly for long periods of
time. Over time, this can affect your posture and make it hard, impossible, or
painful to sit or stand straight.
Poor posture has many side effects that can
make your life miserable, so if you want to know more, read on.
1. Spinal Deformity
A healthy spine has a few curves, but the
curves are minimal, and the spine shouldn't curve to the side. Some people are
borne with conditions that cause spinal deformities, such as scoliosis, but
poor posture can also lead to changes in your spinal structure. Not only does
this affect the way you look, but also it can lead to severe pain and limited
mobility because of the abnormal shape.
Poor posture often leads to scoliosis or
kyphosis. Scoliosis is when the spine curves to the side. This can be caused
when you lean to one side in a chair for long periods. Kyphosis occurs when
your spine curves too far outward. This may straighten your lower back, which
is naturally curved, or create a hunched back appearance.
2. Poor Lung Performance
If you have chronic bad posture, it may
even affect your lung performance. The more you slouch forward, the shorter and
tighter your chest muscles become. If they become too tight, they may prevent
you from taking deep breaths, which creates issues with shallow breathing.
In addition, poor posture puts pressure on
the diaphragm, which makes the diaphragm more difficult to expand. This also
makes it harder to take a good deep breath. Without good, healthy breaths, you
can't get all the oxygen you need for your internal organs and tissues to
function properly.
3. Poor Circulation
Poor circulation is a similar problem to
poor lung performance because it hinders how much healthy blood reaches the
different cells in your body. Bad posture can cause poor circulation with tight
muscles and joints, which may compress arteries.
In particular, poor posture can lead to
high blood pressure. The reduced blood flow throughout the body makes your
heart work harder.
4. Nerve Pain
Nerves also take a beating when you have
poor posture. The incorrect position of bones and muscles can put unnecessary
pressure on nerves, which can cause pain throughout the body. A pinched nerve
in the top of your neck may cause neck pain, neck stiffness, or headaches. If
you have a pinched nerve in the neurovascular bundle, the nerve pain may shoot
down your arms.
These conditions can cause constant pain,
or they may only cause pins and needles or numbness. The symptoms of a
compressed nerve in the neurovascular bundle include feelings of weakness or
heaviness in the arms (especially when you raise them above your head),
cramp-like pain in arms and hands, changes in the color of the hand, and cold
hands.
5. Digestive Issues
Poor posture can even affect your digestive
system, and it does this in several ways. First, poor posture puts pressure on
your stomach and intestines, which makes it harder for them to properly process
and eliminate waste. This slows the digestive process, which can lead to
bloating, feelings of fullness, and heartburn.
Constipation is another possible side
effect of poor posture. When you have poor posture, and you try to evacuate
your bowels, the poor posture causes your knees to fall below your hips, which
partially closes the anus and makes it hard to pass stool. Finally, all the
excess pressure on the lower abdomen from hunching forward can lead to pressure
on the bladder, which can cause incontinence or leaking.
Poor posture has many side effects, and many
people suffer from bad posture. However, you can fix your posture over time.
One of the best first steps you can take is to talk with a chiropractor. A good
chiropractor can relieve immediate pain and teach you exercises that will help
with your posture. For more information,
contact us
at Corner
Chiropractic Center today.
