Introduction
When your body is not properly positioned, you have a bad posture. This might happen if you sit for an extended amount of time or if you stand for an extended period of time. Numerous health issues, such as neck and back discomfort, headaches, and tired muscles, can be brought on by poor posture. Additionally, it may affect your digestion and respiration.
Some individuals experience postural issues as a result of a disease. However, daily activity, stress, and tension are the main causes of postural alterations. Bad posture may result from:
Tight muscles: Your muscles may shorten if you maintain the same position for an extended period of time, which will cause your posture to become crooked. Office employees frequently have tight muscles in their shoulders, necks, backs, and hips.
Weak muscles: Spinal issues can be brought on, in particular, by underdeveloped core muscles. You could find it more difficult to maintain hip and trunk alignment if you have a squishy midsection.
High-stress jobs: You may be more susceptible to shoulder and neck problems if you work in a demanding job. Due to their long shifts behind the wheel, professional drivers (of trucks and buses) are also particularly vulnerable to posture issues.
High-heeled shoes: When you’re wearing heels, your posture and walk shift. Long-term heel use may also cause tight calf muscles and arches.
Bad Posture and Cough
Can bad posture cause a cough?
The answer is Yes! Let us see how bad posture affects our body and causes coughing.
The neck and lower back of the human body naturally bend inward. Our head should be at least an inch higher than our hips while we are seated. Our head is closer to being at the same level as our hips when we slouch, though. When this occurs, the spinal discs get compressed against one another, and pressure is placed on the spinal nerves, resulting in discomfort or numbness in the arms or legs.
Our lungs are constricted and have a harder time expanding during inhalation when we stretch forward. On the other hand, it becomes more challenging to efficiently exhale as we stretch backward. This makes it more difficult for the person to breathe and coughs as a result.
Coughing can be brought on by tight chest muscles from poor posture, which prevents you from breathing properly and causes a buildup of mucus in your lungs.
How to Prevent Bad Posture
The first step in preventing poor posture is to pinpoint the underlying source of your issue and then address it appropriately. For instance, rather than concentrating just on posture correction if obesity is the root reason for your poor posture, you should concentrate on reducing weight with a healthy diet and exercise program.
There are a few things that you should keep in mind to avoid bad posture. First, make sure that you are sitting up straight in your chair at all times. You should also take regular breaks from sitting down so that your muscles don’t get stiff and sore. Finally, make sure that you have good lighting while working on any task so that it doesn’t cause eye strain or headaches later on.
The following are some tips that you can use to prevent bad posture:
- Use an ergonomic chair to relieve stress on your neck and back. If the armrests on the chair can be adjusted, that is a strong indication that it is ergonomic.
- Every hour, get up from your desk and take a little stroll around the room. Your muscles will become more flexible as a result, and your joints won’t become tight.
- Keep the display at eye level when typing to avoid staring down at it for extended periods of time.
There are several actions you may take to assist improve your posture if you currently have poor alignment. These consist of:
- Build up the muscles in your back and core.
- Get your back muscles stretched.
- Exercise regularly
- Stand up every hour
Conclusion
Bad posture is a prevalent issue that can have a long-term negative impact on one’s health. It can be caused by a variety of factors, so it’s critical to determine its underlying cause and address it appropriately.
It is important to note that it is not possible for everyone to have perfect posture at all times. For example, if you need to carry a heavy bag on one shoulder for a long time then you may find that this affects the way you stand or sit as well.
You can attempt a variety of activities to try to keep your posture upright. Consider things like how your workstation is set up, the ergonomics of your chair, how close your keyboard and computer screen are to your body, the height of your desk chair or stool, etc.
MD, PhD. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician from São Paulo - Brazil. Pain Fellowship in University of São Paulo.