Back pain is one of the most common problems in the UK with a whopping 80% of us suffering from it at some point during our life time.

Four Everyday Habits Could Be Causing Back Pain

Four Everyday Habits Could Be Causing Back Pain

Back pain is causing problems in our daily life as well as our working life - with back problems being one of the biggest causes of time off in this country. A brand new survey has revealed that 70% suffer from back pain on a daily basis, with 90% regularly taking painkillers to cope.

But what is causing so many people to suffer from this problem? The cause of the issue could be closer at hand and easier to deal with than you would think as four everyday habits could be having a major impact on us.

1. Your smart phone - The human head and neck isn't designed to stare down at tablets and mobile phone screens for hours at a time and these prolonged periods of neck flexion and poor posture can lead to back pain and stiffness.

Try: Limiting use of your mobile phone or tablet to short stretches at a time. Take frequent breaks and try intermittently holding your phone or tablet up to eye level.

2. Stress - Just like the rest of you, your back muscles tense up when you start to feel you are under pressure. That uncomfortable twinge can lead to us feeling even more fraught - and a vicious cycle forms. Stress also causes your levels of the hormone cortisol to soar, which increases ¬inflammation in the body.

Try: A clinically backed anti-inflammatory supplement to help relieve nagging pain and inflammation. Research has shown that GOPO - an active compound derived from rosehips with strong anti-inflammatory properties - provides symptomatic relief for patients with acute exacerbations of chronic lower back pain.

3. Sedentary lifestyle - Surprising research has shown that people who have desk jobs suffer more back pain than those working in manual jobs where lots of lifting is involved. Keeping moving and using your joints and spine strengthens them, reducing risk of injury, whereas -inactivity can weaken them and make you more prone to problems.

Try: Getting regular exercise to improve strength and suppleness. Swimming and walking are great low impact ways to strengthen the back without straining it through sudden, jolting movements. Research has also shown that a home use device called Kyrobak, which delivers a unique combination of movements to the lower back - Continuous Passive Motion and Oscillation Therapy- can help to relieve long term non specific lower back pain, by loosening muscles and relieving pressure.

4. Smoking- Researchers believe that cigarettes could damage tissue in the lower back by slowing down circulation and reducing the flow of nutrients to joints and muscles - leading to pain and soreness.

Try: Talking to your GP about enrolling in a 'stop smoking' clinic - they can also talk to you about the range of available replacement therapies such as patches, gum and other medications.