Can your stomach be responsible for your back pain

LET’S DISCUSS IF YOUR STOMACH COULD BE ONE OF THE FACTORS LEADING TO YOUR BACK PAIN WITH THE FOLLOWING POINTS.

1. When we experience back pain, we try physiotherapy, ointments, exercises but still sometimes the back pain persists. Even on evaluation with blood tests, X ray or MRI, nothing abnormal is detected.
2. So, if nothing wrong with the back in back pain, could the stomach be a contributor to your back pain?
3. Our Spine naturally maintains a curve. This curve ensures stability in our core.
4. However, when abdominal fat increases, this natural curve is distorted. This is the start of mild back pain. Here, MRI may not reveal any abnormality.
5. If we continue to ignore the pain, while abdominal fat increases, situation can escalate.
6. Excess fat exerts pressure on the lumbar disc. Sometimes, the disc may break or bulge to this pressure. At times, it may protrude and exert pressure on nerves, leading to sciatica. This marks the second stage of increasing belly fat.
7. In some cases, even if a person appears thin externally, their visceral fat including the organs of the stomach, liver and pancreas accumulates and may not be visible externally. Through ultrasound, this can manifest as fatty liver.
8. Accumulated fat in the body can contribute to spinal deterioration as the fat release inflammatory mediators which trigger inflammation and swelling.
9. Over the time, these inflammatory mediators weaken our skeleton, subsequently leading to osteopenia and osteoporosis. This causes increase risk of fracture.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF THE CORE IS WEAK.

1. If you have to rely on a support while getting up from bed or chair.
2. If your back arches while standing.
3. If your body sway to the sides while walking and you can not walk straight.
4. If you have to hold your breath while doing core exercises.

Any of the above sign positive, points towards the weak core.

MANAGEMENT

1. Do not fall prey to crash diets/fad diets which may decrease your weight for a month or two but eventually leads to frustration and electrolyte imbalance.
2. Therefore, it is important, to incorporate something which can follow up for life.
3. 1st crucial aspect is exercise 🡪  to given at least 20-30 minutes every day. Either morning walk or yoga or going to the gym, whatever suits as per your schedule.
4. Intermittent fasting for 16 hours 🡪 if you find it difficult to do it for 16 hours to begin with, then you ay start with 12 hours then eventually increasing to 14 -16 hours. For example, you can have early dinner at 6- 7 pm and 1st breakfast at 10-11 am.
5. Absolutely avoid processed food times like refined oil, refined sugar, fried and junk food. Instead take jaggery, dates to sweeten and fresh fruit juice or coconut water instead of soft drinks or packaged juices.

For video description, please follow the link 🡪  https://youtu.be/A0-ULmuTZF8