Alcohol, while often seen as a relaxing aid to ceasing the worries that racks our brains and strain our backs, can have a surprisingly detrimental effect on our spines. While alcohol is administered by many to help reduce stress, studies have now shown that alcoholic beverages can vastly contribute to and exacerbate back pains. The following article aims to explore the surprising ways in which alcohol can increase back pain and the measures one can take to minimize its adverse effects.
Main Headline 1: Nerve Damage
Alcohol’s corrosive properties can be highly detrimental to the body and its functioning. One primary area of damage is the nerve endings of the spine, which can be deeply affected from the intake of alcohol. According to a 2004 study published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, alcohol metabolites can damage the surrounding nerve endings and damage them to such a degree that might lead to a lifetime of back pain.
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Due to their decreased sensitivity and response, nerves may fail to send the proper signals to the brain, resulting in lessened reflexes and higher risk of sustaining back injuries.
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In some cases, the nerve damage can become so severe that even though the afflicted person remains inactive, they may still experience regular pain due to nerve calcification caused by extended alcohol use.
Main Headline 2: Dehydration
Due to the diuretic effects of alcohol, those experiencing its effects frequently become dehydrated. This can significantly reduce the available lubricating fluid used in the spine’s joints, leading to a higher likelihood of spinal damage such as joint-breaking or cracking of the vertebral discs.
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Dehydration can cause wear and tear on the spine as well, due to the lack of natural cushion it originally provided.
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Symptoms of spinal dehydration can include lower back pain, muscle cramps, and joint pain. In severe cases, they can cause more serious issues, such as muscle spasms, sciatica, fractured vertebrae and herniated discs.
Main Headline 3: Poor Posture
Alcohol consumption has been linked to poor posture and balance, which can cause major back problems. Regular consumption of alcohol results in the deterioration of motor skills, which causes people to walk with a sway or imbalance in their steadiness and gait.
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Not only can poor posture result in long-term spinal misalignment, but it also greatly increases the chances of acute injuries that could permanently damage the spine.
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A bad posture can also cause the muscles and supporting tissues in the back to become tight, stiff and sore. This is often due to prolonged and abnormal lopsided stress on the back.
Main Headline 4: Low Vitamin B
Alcohol is known to reduce the amount of Vitamin B in the body. Vitamin B deficiencies have been linked to an increase in back pain and nerve damage.
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Vitamin B deficiencies can cause ergonomic changes in the way the spine is formed and its ability to protect against certain physical traumas. A Vitamin B deficiency can also disrupt nerve functioning, which can cause pain similar to that caused by neurological disorders such as sciatica and fibromyalgia.
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Additionally, a Vitamin B deficiency can lead to the contraction of muscles in and around the spine, making them spasm, tighten and ultimately cause pain.
Main Headline 5: Effects on the Brain
Though often forgotten, alcohol can also have a detrimental effect on the brain, leading to complications and various warning signs throughout the body, especially in the spine.
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Alcohol has been known to affect both the physical and mental structures of the brain and alter it to better deal with the intake of the substance. This can, however, lead to serious repercussions, like losing control, muscle coordination, and of course, the risk of musculoskeletal damage to the spine.
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Studies have also linked alcohol abuse to an increase in an enzyme known as COX-2. If left untreated, increased levels of this enzyme can cause back pains, joint aches and migraines.
Main Headline 6: Endocrine System
Alcohol has been known to affect the endocrine system in the long run, leading to a gradual decrease in hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, the primary androgens in the body.
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These hormones are essential for the maintenance of bone health, muscle strength and nerve endings. A decrease in these hormones can lead to an increase in bone weakness, bone density and joint instability, leading to a plethora of problems linked to the spine and its health.
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A decrease in hormone levels can also cause an increase in inflammation throughout the body, leading to an increase of chronic pain in the spine, such as sciatica and other nerve disorders.
Main Headline 7: Effects on Digestive System
Alcohol can have a significant effect on the digestive system and its ability to absorb essential foods, leading to poor digestion, constipation and nutrient deficiencies that can all contribute to back pain.
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Since the majority of nutrients essential to spine health must be taken from food, alcohol’s ability to hinder proper nutrient absorption can lead to serious ramifications for our spines, such as allowing for the presence of acute inflammations that can cause intense back pain.
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Furthermore, inadequate digestion and absorption can also lead to vitamin deficiencies, which can further increase back pain.
Main Headline 8: Effects on Liver
Extended and frequent alcohol consumption can lead to a decrease in its filtering functions, leading to the over-accumulation of toxins in its various organs. Among these organs is the liver, which if severely affected, can lead to a decrease in the amount of albumin present in the blood.
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Albumin is a protein responsible for regulating the amount of fluids in the body. With a decrease in its presence, the body can become more susceptible to inflammation and abnormalities of the spine, leading to an overall decrease in spine health and an increase in long-term pain.
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This is especially prominent in those suffering from cirrhosis or alcoholism, where the risk of vertebral fractures and other spine-related complications increase.
Main Headline 9: Slipping Discs
Another significant effect that alcohol has on the spine is the increase in disc-slips, which can cause severe pain, due to even the slightest of movements. Slipping discs can occur due to the alcohol-induced shrinkage of the spine and its supporting ligaments, which makes it much more prone to potentially harmful movements.
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The cause of these slips is an increased presence of degenerative disc diseases (DDD) due to the gradual destruction of the spine’s physical image, which can cause symptoms like tingling sensations or numbness in the limbs.
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In some cases, spinal discs may even rupture due to these slips and wear and tear, leading to a highly risky and dangerous leakage of the spinal material that can cause severe back pains, along with the numbness and tingling in the arms and legs.
Main Headline 10: Osteoporosis
An increase in extended alcohol consumption can also lead to