My Water Drinking Recommendations for Patients With Back Pain
At this time, I recommend that my patients who are sedentary and not exposed to extreme temperatures (over 85 degrees Fahrenheit) consume 40-50 percent of their body weight in ounces of water. So, a patient weighing 150 pounds should consider the consumption of 60-75 ounces of water per day. Water sources include food and certain beverages, so an individual should be able to gain 20 percent of their water needs from a balanced diet. I do not consider soda, coffee, alcohol, and black teas to be good sources of water because of their diuretic effects. There are various opinions about the water content values of beverages, but I won't entertain those discussions in this article.
Gardens Need Water and So Do Gardeners
Acute episodes of back pain are frequently caused by outdoor activities like gardening, which increase the water needs that are frequently ignored by the gardener. The fact that the seasonal gardener is more active than usual and exposed to the effects of the outdoors indicates a need for more water consumption. Unfortunately, many people who experience chronic dehydration also suffer from the loss of the normal thirst mechanism. The body's water needs increase with the gardening activity, and certain cells in the body cry out for water. When these cells are denied proper amounts of water, they react in sometimes-painful ways. For instance, the back muscles frequently go into spasm and cause the active gardener to experience a painful distorted posture. This distorted posture and pain causes a visit to the chiropractor.
How to Avoid Back Pain by Drinking Water
If you want to avoid painful back spasms, I suggest that you consume more water before, during, and after you begin your gardening chores or any increased physical exertion. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink water. You may avoid painful and sometimes expensive episodes of back pain at any time time of the year by drinking more water.
