A healthy spine is a happy spine (and hopefully, pain-free spine). Here are five ways to keep a healthy spine.

5 Paths to a Healthy Spine

1. Watch Your Posture

One of the major functions of our spine is to help support the body. However, if we practice poor posture, we can aggravate the tissues in and around the spine, causing pain. Be aware of your posture as you sit, stand, and walk around. Try to keep your shoulders back and head high, looking straight ahead. Don’t forget about watching your posture while you work. If you work at a computer for several hours a day, make sure your monitor height is adjusted such that you aren’t looking down for hours at a time. If you work in a physical job, remember your posture and always practice proper lifting techniques when moving heavy objects.

Read more tips for maintaining proper desk posture.

2. Exercise

We’ve all heard the phrase, “objects in motion tend to stay in motion, objects at rest tend to stay at rest.”  This is a very good way to think about your body. With a sedentary lifestyle, your muscles lose strength, and you lose flexibility. Adding exercise, or stretching, to your daily regimen can help keep muscles and tendons loose and less prone to a sprain or pull. Walking is a great way to get exercise and almost everyone can do it. If you find it difficult, then start slowly and increase your time each day.

3. Re-evaluate How You Sleep

We can spend a third of our life sleeping. With all those hours in one position, make sure your mattress and pillow are appropriate. What’s best for you may differ from others based on how you sleep. If you’d like, you can read more about the best pillow for neck pain.

4. Watch What You Eat

What we put into our body has a huge impact on how we feel every day. Not only can weight affect our spine, but scientists have linked different foods to inflammation in the body. Inflammation near the spine and in and around the delicate nerves can cause quite a bit of pain. Read more about foods for a healthy spine and how body weight can affect your back.

5. Quit Smoking

If you smoke, you should know that you are increasing your chances of developing spinal disorders. So, add a healthy back to the list of reasons you should quit smoking. Quitting is hard, talk to your doctor about options or ask friends which method worked for them.

Read more about how smoking affects your back.