The headline to this article may seem strange to you. After all, what does the news have to do with your back?
According to Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, quite a bit.
A report called "Back Pain and Osteoporosis Special Report: The Mind-Body Connection" stated that a growing number of studies show that the mind-body connection can play a role in both causing back pain and making it continue longer than necessary.
Psychological stress can increase the risk of developing back pain and can also slow recovery.
One study found that "catastrophizing" — constantly expecting the worst — increased the risk of back pain. When this happens, your body activates its fight-or-flight response. Muscles tighten, stress hormones rise, and tension builds.
Today, the news is often negative. That does not mean the news is always wrong, but constantly taking in stressful information can affect your body more than you realize.
The good news is there are many ways to break the cycle. Breathing exercises, stretching, meditation, walking, and exercise can all help reduce stress and muscle tension.
Chiropractic care can also be a great way to relax, reduce stress, and help your body function better.
The bottom line is simple: there may be little you can personally do to change the bad news, so it makes no sense to let it constantly create more stress and pain in your life.
