Back discomfort and injuries commonly affect many people. Back injuries result from improper heavy lifting, but they can also happen to someone just sitting at a desk. Keep reading for a selection of tips and advice on preventing and treating back pain.

Finding a mattress that suits your needs is vital to getting a good nights sleep and to waking up free from back pain. A mattress that is too soft will not support your back properly. Mattresses that are firm provide the best support level, but too much firmness can have the opposite effect. Go to different stores and try as many mattresses as you need to until you find the right one.

Back pain is important, so do not ignore it. Many people attempt to ignore back pain and push through it. And then they think that the back pain can be “walked off”. Too much movement can make pain worse. Take a few days to rest until the pain goes away.

If you have issues with your back, deal with them. Many people ignore the signals that their body is sending them. A lot of people try their best to ignore the pain in their back. But too much movement during an acute attack of pain can just make it worse. Try not to do too much until the pain decreases.

Maintain a healthy, nutritious diet that includes plenty of water, normally around 62 ounces each day. A proper diet does a lot of things for you, and prevention of back discomfort is on that list. This promotes a leaner body and give your body the nutrients it needs to heal itself.

When a backache comes on, try laying with your knees and hips at a 90 degree angle. This will stretch your back and align your spine, loosening your tension and alleviating your pain. If this position feels uncomfortable to you, find one that you are comfortable with.

Protect your back during the day by walking around on breaks. You can stretch your back muscles by simply standing up and doing a few leg stretches, or walking. This helps to avoid injuries related to compression of the lumbar discs.

Back discomfort is only made worse when you get stressed and tense about it. Learning to relax helps to ease the tension in your muscles which will decrease the chances of another injury. Take the time to rest and apply moist heat to the injured areas to alleviate the pain in your back.

Maintain good posture, even when you sit, to prevent unnecessary back pain. A lot of people erroneously think that back injuries result from intense physical activity. In truth, even sitting the wrong way for hours on end – like many people do when they stoop over their computers – can cause cumulative damage to back muscles.

If you are having back discomfort, you should speak your doctor so they can tell you what is wrong. A set of tests will be needed by your doctor so that a proper medical assessment can be made.

You can take prescription medications as well as over-the-counter remedies for your back pains. Always consult your physician before making any medication choices, as your health and well being might depend upon it. Medicines that you can buy from the pharmacy are often good enough, however, sometimes you may need something that only a doctor can prescribe.

Don’t stand slouched for anything, even chores like vacuuming. When you slouch as you vacuum, you force your body to constantly reach forward, thus causing 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.

A surprising tip for many when it comes to treating back pain, is that you really should get frequent exercise. Back discomfort sufferers think that exercise will worsen their back discomfort, when it fact it actually helps. Stretching out the muscles in the back can help ease back pain for many people.

A great relaxation exercise is to lay down and let your body become limp. Once you are limp, isolate muscle groups in your body and flex them, one group at a time, slowly. This is a good method to help relax the muscles of your entire body so you’ll feel better.

Drink lots of water, at least 8 glasses a day. Back pain can be greatly alleviated with a diet that is healthy and nutritious. In addition to the ability of nutritious liquids and nutrients to thwart the advance of back pain, you will also benefit from lower body weight that eases pressure on back muscles.

Back injuries and back pain can be very serious ailments. If not treated properly, it can lead to long-term disability that adversely alters your way of life. Since recovering from back ailments can be so difficult, it is extremely important to take preventative measures to protect your back in the first place. If it happens to you, you must know what to do about it. The ideas below can shed light on how you can keep your back healthy by avoiding back issues, and provide self-care for any existing back discomfort.