Posture and Heart Health Month
Dr. Jen is a Board-Certified chiropractor who specializes in sports and women’s health.
So how is posture related to heart health month you ask? Good posture makes you feel good, promote confidence and helps prevent injury. The alignment feeds the heart with the proper amount of oxygen it needs to replenish the body 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.bad posture = reduced oxygen = heart system is at a disadvantageSo how do I know if I'm at risk? 1. When I look at myself in the mirror, are my shoulders rolled forward or do they sit back?Your shoulders’ muscles have a lot of connections
So how is posture related to heart health month, you ask?
Good posture makes you feel good, promotes confidence, and helps prevent injury. The alignment feeds the heart with the proper amount of oxygen it needs to replenish the body 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
bad posture = reduced oxygen = heart system is at a disadvantage
So how do you know if your spine and heart are at risk? Consider the following questions:
1. When I look at myself in the mirror, are my shoulders rolled forward, or do they sit back?
Remember, your shoulders’ muscles have a lot of connections to the front and back of your chest. To naturally open the chest, make sure to put your shoulders back and keep your shoulder blades pointing downward. This gives the chest room to breathe—and an opportunity to reap good posture benefits.
2. If I put my back on the wall, does the back of my head, shoulders, bottom, and heels touch the wall?
Most of us have tightness in the front of our bodies from sitting, being on the computer, driving or commuting half the day. Focusing on opening up your chest and bringing the base of your head back naturally gives your lungs the room they need to breathe—not to mention improving the spine and heart connection.
3. Are you having neck, mid-back or low back pain?
Pain is a sign that the body is not in alignment. By the time pain sets in, chemical processes have started to alter your body. We all have had an injury or two (some worse than others), but have you had the injury addressed? Ignoring symptoms will prolong pain and cause negative changes to your posture.
So, what am I going to do about it?
1. When you start your car in the morning, set your mirrors. If you start looking in your mirror a half hour later and you cannot see properly, the mirror didn’t move, you did. Adjust how you are sitting to help maintain your posture throughout your commute.
2. If you work on a computer, give yourself posture breaks. Set an alert to get up once an hour to either go for a drink of water or the bathroom. When you walk, reset your posture. Think about that position against the wall. If you are always on the phone and the computer, consider using a hands-free system to give your shoulders and neck a break too.
3. If you exercise, check the mirror (not because you’re beautiful- which you are), but this practice is a great way to make sure your form is correct. Proper form or posture will help you avoid injury while giving your muscles the proper amounts of oxygen to help you recover from your workout. That's one of the best good posture benefits.
Our main focus at Garden State Spinal Care is YOUR overall health. If you feel better, you can achieve higher levels of health and fitness. Proper posture not only makes our bodies feel good by filling up our lungs with much-needed oxygen, it is a gateway to healthy body and spine. If your body is not properly aligned, you are not fully addressing your posture.
Get connected. Spine health is heart health.
Lots of love,
Dr. Jen
