Back pain: Causes, symptoms and treatment

Backache or back pain is a common condition that people of all age groups suffer from. Millions of people around the world experience back pain problems at some point in their lives. Backache can occur due to a number of reasons which include stress, improper diet, muscle tension, lack of exercise, poor body postures, excess body weight and arduous physical labour.

What is back pain?

You can develop back pain from an injury, certain medical conditions and physical activity. Back pain an affect people of any age, but the chance of developing lower back pain increases with age. Back pain can develop in the upper back and lower back. Lower back pain may be linked to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, spinal cord and nerves, lower back muscles and the skin around the lumbar area. And upper back pain may be due to disorders of the aorta, tumours in the chest, and spine inflammation.

One of the leading cause of disability worldwide, back pain is something most people ignore. However, it is important that you pay attention because prolonged pain in the back can contribute towards the development of several health problems in the future. Back pain is categorised into two types, acute pain and chronic or long-term pain. Acute pain starts suddenly and lasts for up to 6 weeks and chronic or longterm pain develops over a longer period, lasts for over 3 months, and causes problems.

Can you prevent back pain?

You can help yourself avoid back pain by improving your physical condition. The best way to prevent the onset of the condition is by addressing the risk factors. So, consider the following tips to prevent the onset of back pain.

Regular exercises, especially core-strengthening exercise and flexibility training.

A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.

Having a good posture while standing - stand upright, head facing forward, back straight, and balance your weight evenly on both feet.

When lifting things, use your legs to do the lifting, rather than your back.

When sitting, try to keep your knees and hips level and keep your feet flat on the floor or use a support.

It is important to have proper support for your back while driving.

Sleep on a mattress that keeps your spine straight and supports the weight of your buttocks and shoulders.

Avoid smoking.