Ignoring your back pain doesn’t help and may make it worse. Sometimes people will ignore the signals their body is sending to them. Back pain is not something that someone should hope will “just go away.” Attempting to move a lot when you are in pain can actually make the pain worse. You need to rest so that the pain can ease up a bit.

Contrary to popular belief, a person who suffers from a bad back should exercise frequently. Many people who have back pain feel that it would make things worse, when it would actually help. Stretching out the muscles in the back can help ease back pain for many people.

Laziness and rushing often lead to lifting heavy items out of your healthy reach that you shouldn’t. People often take shortcuts and they do this daily. Move closer to faraway objects and do things right the first time.

Riding in a car can cause back pain since we’re constantly in a car daily. While driving, take care to adjust your seat in relation to the steering wheel, as well as the pedals of your car. You need to be able to reach these without having to stretch your back.

Give up smoking! Studies have been done on the effects of smoking on back pain, and they have shown that there is a correlation between the two. Tobacco decreases your blood circulation and makes blood vessels constrict, leading to a lack of nutrients in your spine, which leaves it vulnerable to injury.

If you have to be seated for an extended period, such as a flight or at a movie, alternate crossing your legs and shifting your weight. Crossing your legs uses your hip and back muscles, so you are keeping them active even while in a position prone to cause back pain. Shift your legs from time to time so you are using both sides.

If you have to sit all day, go for a walk once in a while. To relieve tension in the muscles in your back, you should stand up and stretch regularly. This will help to limit the amount of strain your back feels and can ultimately help you avoid pain in your back.

To help prevent back pain, never slouch while you are doing anything on your feet. For example, many people mistakenly bend over the entire time they vacuum. Leaning over a vacuum cleaner, or hunching over a sink full of dishes, can exacerbate back pain. When you are vacuuming, maintain good posture by standing up straight and using your legs rather than your back to move the vacuum. This can prevent any back pain.

Start filling your diet with more vitamin B12. A lack of vitamin B12 has shown to cause back pain in people. You can diminish your back pain if you eat foods that are rich in B12, like broccoli and other vegetables. Before starting B12 supplements, get your B12 levels measured by your doctor.

Pay attention constantly to your posture. If you are constantly on the alert for negative changes in your posture and quickly make adjustments, you can significantly reduce your back pain. Bad posture can aggravate back pain that already exists, as well as create new issues of its own. Monitor your own posture and see if it helps resolve some of your pain. It takes a lot of effort and attentiveness to break bad posture habits, so make sure you give yourself a reward from time to time.

Apply the tips from the above article to live a life free of back pain. Back pain is a serious problem that needs to be treated.