Many people have jobs that require longhours in front of a computer. Plus, thanks to phones, tablets and other formsof daily screen use, more and more people sit incorrectly for long periods oftime. Over time, this can affect your posture and make it hard, impossible, orpainful to sit or stand straight.
Poor posture has many side effects that canmake your life miserable, so if you want to know more, read on.
1. Spinal Deformity
A healthy spine has a few curves, but thecurves are minimal, and the spine shouldn't curve to the side. Some people areborne with conditions that cause spinal deformities, such as scoliosis, butpoor posture can also lead to changes in your spinal structure. Not only doesthis affect the way you look, but also it can lead to severe pain and limitedmobility because of the abnormal shape.
Poor posture often leads to scoliosis orkyphosis. Scoliosis is when the spine curves to the side. This can be causedwhen you lean to one side in a chair for long periods. Kyphosis occurs whenyour spine curves too far outward. This may straighten your lower back, whichis naturally curved, or create a hunched back appearance.
2. Poor Lung Performance
If you have chronic bad posture, it mayeven affect your lung performance. The more you slouch forward, the shorter andtighter your chest muscles become. If they become too tight, they may preventyou from taking deep breaths, which creates issues with shallow breathing.
In addition, poor posture puts pressure onthe diaphragm, which makes the diaphragm more difficult to expand. This alsomakes it harder to take a good deep breath. Without good, healthy breaths, youcan't get all the oxygen you need for your internal organs and tissues tofunction properly.
3. Poor Circulation
Poor circulation is a similar problem topoor lung performance because it hinders how much healthy blood reaches thedifferent cells in your body. Bad posture can cause poor circulation with tightmuscles and joints, which may compress arteries.
In particular, poor posture can lead tohigh blood pressure. The reduced blood flow throughout the body makes yourheart work harder.
4. Nerve Pain
Nerves also take a beating when you havepoor posture. The incorrect position of bones and muscles can put unnecessarypressure on nerves, which can cause pain throughout the body. A pinched nervein the top of your neck may cause neck pain, neck stiffness, or headaches. Ifyou have a pinched nerve in the neurovascular bundle, the nerve pain may shootdown your arms.
These conditions can cause constant pain,or they may only cause pins and needles or numbness. The symptoms of acompressed nerve in the neurovascular bundle include feelings of weakness orheaviness 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 coldhands.
5. Digestive Issues
Poor posture can even affect your digestivesystem, and it does this in several ways. First, poor posture puts pressure onyour stomach and intestines, which makes it harder for them to properly processand eliminate waste. This slows the digestive process, which can lead tobloating, feelings of fullness, and heartburn.
Constipation is another possible sideeffect of poor posture. When you have poor posture, and you try to evacuateyour bowels, the poor posture causes your knees to fall below your hips, whichpartially closes the anus and makes it hard to pass stool. Finally, all theexcess pressure on the lower abdomen from hunching forward can lead to pressureon the bladder, which can cause incontinence or leaking.
Poor posture has many side effects, and manypeople 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 goodchiropractor can relieve immediate pain and teach you exercises that will helpwith your posture. For more information, contact us at CornerChiropractic Center today.
