4 Health Problems Due to Bad Posture

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Medical Video: *POOR POSTURE* caused Back Pain *RELIEVED* by Dr Joseph Cipriano

According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary, posture is the shape or state of the body. Good posture is important in human health, because without a good posture, humans cannot be fully said to be physically fit.

What is a good posture like?

Good posture is characterized by bones that are arranged properly and correctly in the proper place as well as joints, muscles, and ligaments that work according to their function. The normal spine has three natural curves, namely between the top of the spine and the neck, in the middle, and at the bottom. If the size of this curve becomes bigger or smaller, then someone will begin to feel the problem in standing and the posture looks abnormal.

Image source: http://www.thephysiocompany.com/blog/stop-slouching-postural-dysfunction-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-bad-posture
Image source: http://www.thephysiocompany.com/blog/stop-slouching-postural-dysfunction-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-bad-posture

In plain view, good posture can be seen from the way someone stands and sits. People with good posture will have a well-built, but not rigid stature, whether standing or sitting. Unfortunately, not everyone can maintain good posture.

Postures that are initially robust will eventually change due to daily habits that unwittingly affect body posture, such as carrying a bag that is too heavy, wearing shoes that do not fit the size, to the wrong body position when sitting, standing, and sleeping for a period long enough continuously.

What happens if a bad posture is left alone?

Not only does it create a visually unfavorable impression, a bad posture can also affect a person's physical and mental health, even some of them have the following long-term effects.

1. Causes neck, shoulder and back pain

One of the most obvious negative effects that can be felt by people with poor posture is pain in some parts of the body around the spine. Body postures that tend to bend can cause pain or pain in the neck, shoulders and back because the muscles, especially the flexor and extensor muscles, must work harder to stabilize the bent spine. In his book, You 1.0: The Ultimate User's Guide for You, Dr. Matthew Kounkel, DC, an expert chiropractic, also stated that more than 80% of neck and back problems are a result of muscle pain resulting from years of poor posture. This long-term effect of a poor body position can cause the shape of the shoulder to change permanently and deteriorate the function of the joints in the spine.

2. Reducing lung function

Based on Dr. Rene Cailliet from the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Southern California, overly bending the body turned out to cause a decrease in lung capacity by up to 30%. When a person is bent, the lung organs will be compressed to become smaller so that the volume of breathing air decreases. Furthermore, the supply of oxygen through the blood to the entire body will decrease, which can be fatal for cells, tissues, and vital organs in the body. In addition, poor shoulder posture can also cause chronic hyperventilation which is characterized by a person breathing deeper and faster due to the low oxygen content in the body.

3. Inhibiting blood circulation

Body posture plays a large role in the process of blood flow throughout the body. Poor posture will change the arrangement of the spine which can cause narrowing of the arteries. Narrowing of blood vessels around the spine can block the blood supply to muscle cells, which also affects the supply of nutrients and oxygen. The position of sitting too long by crossing your legs can block blood flow, raise blood pressure, and cause it spider veins.

Blood pressure will be higher because of the amount of blood pumped up towards the heart - fortunately this only lasts a while. However, for people who have a high risk of blood clots, it is recommended not to sit in a cross-legged position for a long time because it can increase the risk deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In addition, blood circulation that is not smooth will also cause digestive problems, considering that blood flow has a large role in the process of human digestion.

4. Worsening depression and stress

In 2012, a professor from San Francisco State University found that changing positions to be more upright could improve mood and one's energy level. In the survey, he instructed 110 students to walk in the corridor in a bent position, then instructed them to jump when crossing the corridor. For these students, walking bent reduces energy and experiences more depression than when they jump.

In addition, in 2015, American Psychological Association publish results from experiments on how posture affects stress. Apparently, people who sit upright have higher self-esteem, mood better, and lower fear than people whose sitting position tends to 'decline'. In conclusion, the experts stated that poor posture while sitting caused a high sense of stress, even potentially causing chronic stress. A Harvard study also stated that people with a bent position experienced a decrease in testosterone levels by 10% and an increase in the level of the hormone cortisol by 15%, which causes a person to become more easily stressed.

Let's straighten up!

Not many people are aware that a bad posture can have a bad impact on the whole body, not only on the physical but also on the mental. Many of them are already aware of the negative effects of poor posture, but underestimate these things and are reluctant to make changes. In fact, if left further, the effects caused by poor posture can cause far more serious diseases. Therefore, the posture must be repaired and maintained so that it remains in its proper position.

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4 Health Problems Due to Bad Posture
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