Staying Hydrated Means Better Spine Health

You’ve heard plenty about the importance of drinking more water for your health. Were you aware that water plays a significant role in the health of your spine? You definitely need water for the proper function of your bodily systems, and that includes your spine.

Spine Health Basics

To appreciate the value of water for your spine, you first need to understand some of the basics about how your spine is structured and how it functions. Each of your vertebrae is stacked on top of one another – but not directly on top of each other. A spinal disc sits between each, similar to a little doughnut filled with gel. Each disc helps cushion the bones in your spine from contact with each other. They allow you to bounce and twist through life without grinding your vertebrae together. The exterior of your spinal disc is tough and strong, but the inside is filled with a much softer material, somewhat resembling gel. A little bit of water is released every time you compress the disc. The water needs to be replenished for the disc to function correctly.

You Need Water for Your Spine

There is no way to live without compressing your spinal discs. Just sitting upright, your discs are holding back gravity. You want to move without pain or discomfort, so you need functional discs. Water is a big part of what makes those discs functional.

If you don’t have enough water in your system, your discs will slowly dehydrate causing them to not work as they should. The longer they remain deflated, the more they can put you at a higher risk of friction between your vertebrae. Friction is the enemy because it can lead to nerve compression, bone loss, degeneration, and general pain and discomfort. Your spine is lower on the list of essential areas of your body to maintain when you are dehydrated – so your body will pull water away from your spine if it needs hydration for more important things like your brain and vital organs. That means you can have enough water in your system to stay alive and relatively functional by not enough to keep your spine working properly.

Living a lifestyle that keeps you mildly dehydrated can put extra strain on your spine over a long period of time, leading to a gradual degradation of your discs and joints. You may not even realize there’s a problem until you are in severe pain and require medical attention.

A lack of proper hydration can lead to other health problems: Urinary tract infections, Chronic kidney disease and kidney stones, Functional constipation, Gallstones, Coronary heart disease, Headaches, Diabetes, Obesity, and of course, back and neck pain.

Water and Chiropractic – An Ideal Combination for Better Health

Combining a healthy lifestyle with regular chiropractic care can go even further in maintaining health of your back, neck, and joints. Do you know that many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and spinach, are almost 100% water by weight? Another guideline for overall better health is to drink a glass of water with every meal, before, during, and after an exercise or physical activity, and when you feel thirsty.