Top 5 Anti-Aging Secrets for a Healthy Spine

An unexpected injury can certainly cause back and neck problems, but did you know that the natural actually the leading cause of the majority of spinal conditions and their resulting symptoms? Over time, your spinal anatomy – including the joints, cartilage, bone, and discs – gradually degenerate due to normal wear and tear. This natural deterioration can result in a number of different spinal conditions, such as:

• Foraminal stenosis – the narrowing of the spaces between your vertebrae through which nerves exit the spine
• Spinal arthritis – the degradation of spinal joints
• Bone spurs – excess bone growths that result from vertebral bone-on-bone contact
• Degenerative disc disease – the deterioration of intervertebral discs over time

By themselves, these age-related conditions don't necessarily cause any problems. However, it's when a spinal nerve becomes compressed – either by a bone spur, narrowed vertebral opening, or a bulging or herniated disc – that problems such as pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling in the back and/or neck and throughout the body can arise.

While there simply isn't a magical anti-aging pill you can take to turn back the clock and reverse the natural effects of getting older, there are some simple steps you can take to help keep a healthy spine and potentially ease the back pain, neck pain, and other symptoms of degenerative spine conditions – or possibly prevent them altogether.

Here are some of the top anti-aging secrets for a healthy spine:

1. Lose weight – Maintaining a healthy body weight through diet and exercise can reduce the pressure on your spine.
2. Modify your behavior - Minimize caffeine and alcohol intake and quit smoking, as these have all been shown to exacerbate symptoms of a spinal condition. Also, find your happy place through stress relief techniques that will keep your spine (and your body overall) relaxed and in good health.
3. Keep a good posture – Incorrect posture while sitting, standing, walking, and/or lifting can cause new spinal problems to occur, or can inflame existing conditions.
4. Lead a healthy lifestyle – Eating right, getting plenty of vitamins and minerals (especially calcium) in your diet, and staying adequately hydrated can all help keep your spine in top condition.
5. Get plenty of rest and sleep properly – Getting enough sleep, and sleeping in the proper position can reduce back pain or neck pain and help in the prevention of new problems.

As you can see, many of these tips really aren't "secrets" at all for keeping your spine healthy. In fact, they are simply excellent ways to maintain your overall health and well-being, and as a side benefit, also can help keep your spine flexible and strong over the years.

What other tips do you have for maintaining a healthy spine? Share your thoughts on Laser Spine Institute's Facebook page and discuss with other members the ways you've been able to reduce or prevent the symptoms of various spinal conditions.

Picture courtesy of Google Images.