The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back down the hips, buttocks, and each leg. You develop sciatica when the nerve is compromised, such as under pressure due to a herniated disc or bone overgrowth. Sciatica is among the top causes of back pain, which ranges from minor discomfort to excruciating levels that can turn your life inside out. Sciatica Washington, PA, can subside on its own, or after minor interventions like rest, heat, and ice therapy, through medicine, and at times, require more demanding treatments, including surgery.
While a common problem, sciatica can be avoided or managed and help you avoid invasive treatments. This is more so if you know the common risk factors and adopt a lifestyle that minimizes them. Here is a glance at the common sciatica risk factors.
Age
Aging is beyond your control, but it doesn’t mean you should lie down and wait for it to take a toll on your body and overall well-being. As you age, your flexibility diminishes, increasing your chances of injury. Moreover, the immune system takes a blow, meaning it takes longer for injuries to heal. Age-related spine changes, including wear and tear and herniated discs, are among the common sciatica causes.
Embracing an active lifestyle early to keep the muscles and core strength at better levels can lower the risk. Other options, such as chiropractic adjustment, can help keep the spine aligned, lower herniated disc risks, and reduce sciatica risk with age.
Lifestyle habits
Do you take a balanced diet? Are you a smoker? Physical activity healthy diet can help reduce inflammation and sciatica risks. If your general health is poor, you will have difficulty achieving such physical activity and dietary measures.
Unhealthy habits like smoking also increase sciatica risks. Smoking impacts your immune system and blood circulation and increases inflammation. Such concerns put you at an increasingly high risk of sciatica and other health problems. Adjusting your lifestyle can help limit sciatica chances, and you already have the sign, manage and speed up recovery.
Obesity
Excess weight is at the heart of most musculoskeletal concerns. The weight puts extra pressure on your spine. Besides the pressure, adipose tissue also creates inflammatory markers. When body inflammation increases, you are at high risk of sciatica. This is because an inflamed sciatic nerve is the main sciatica cause. Shedding the extra weight won’t just make you look and feel good. It also improves overall health, including dealing with or keeping sciatica at bay.
Occupation
Does your job entail carrying heavy loads, prolonged sitting hours, or twisting your back? A sedentary occupation or requiring repetitive movements, more so creating whole body vibrations, increases sciatica risks. Measures such as regular breaks can help lower the chances of experiencing back problems.
Overall health
Health conditions such as diabetes increase sciatica risk. This is because the condition increases nerve damage risks. Other concerns, such as stress and lack of sleep, also put you at higher risk of back pain and sciatica as they leave you vulnerable to obesity, inflammation, and chronic pain.
Back pain is a common problem. Understanding the common causes and risk factors can help uncover ways to keep the pain at bay and lead a more active and happier life. Visit Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center today for more on sciatica, risks, management, and treatment.
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