THREE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF BAD POSTURE ON HEALTH

Posted on December 30 2017

THREE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF BAD POSTURE ON HEALTH-Everyday Medical

Everyone is aware that bad posture isn’t ideal when it comes to looks and confidence. However, many people aren’t aware that bad posture can affect your health in a negative way. Yes, it’s true! Everything starts with the fact that the human body is designed to move. But, the reality today is just opposite! A large number of people work on computers for hours at a time. Over time, our bad postures will lead to several health issues. So, how does your bad posture negatively impact your health? See below:

  1. IMPAIRED DIGESTION:

Do you know your posture can affect your digestion? Our intestines move our food to give the nutrition our body needs. Having a bad posture could impact the movement of our intestines, thereby, affecting the functionality of our gastrointestinal system. More than just weakening our digestive system, a bad posture can also cause us to develop unhealthy belly fat, which also affects our appearance. On the other hand, by sitting up straight and maintaining good posture throughout the day, you not only enhance your digestion but might also see an effect on belly fat too.

  1. REDUCED BREATHING:

Our lungs perform optimally when the diaphragm and rib cage are able to expand properly. Our bad posture habits limit the blood and oxygen flow, thereby, making it hard for us to breathe and even speak. To really witness how a good posture affects your breathing, we would recommend a quick experiment. Sit with your shoulders and spine in a slumped position in a chair. Now, exhale and then, hold the breath. Afterwards, stand up straight and continue holding your breath. You will probably experience a vacuum-like feeling, which represents the breathing space you lack when you are slumping. If you are suffering from reduced breathing problem due to your bad posture, try using a posture support brace.

  1. ELEVATED STRESS LEVELS:

Slumping down your body is not only bad for our breathing but also it affects our nervous system. To counterbalance the constriction caused by our slumping position, our lungs and heart will have to work harder to compensate. This counteraction leads to taxation of the body, resulting in a stress response. On the other hand, sitting upright with our shoulders wide and open chest allows us to breathe easier. This increases our optimal hormone levels, thus, making us feel more energetic. As a result, our stress levels naturally decrease as well.

These are just some of the negative effects of a bad posture, which are important to understand. There is still much more to learn about correct posture and its effect. Have a look at the video here to find out more about this relationship.