Your posture may be more important than you realize. According to research, a person's posture has a direct and significant effect on the following:
- The way they walk
- The way they stand
- The activities they can participate in
- Their height
- Their comfort
- Their appearance
In fact, your posture also affects less vain things, like your ability to breathe properly.
Being able to breathe properly is essential to life, but even low oxygen levels can pose a serious threat to the human body. As numerous studies have shown, an inadequate supply of oxygen in the blood can cause:
- Fatigue
- Disorientation
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Body aches
- Slouching
- Memory problems
- Poor concentration
- Headaches
Ironically, poor posture leads to inadequate breathing which often leads to slouching – even more bad posture. This vicious cycle can have lasting effects on your health. Put simply, the position of your body has far-reaching consequences because it affects your ability to fill your lungs to their full capacity. That simple act is vital to optimal system functioning.
What Is Posture?
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines "posture" as a noun that means:
"a position or bearing of the body for a purpose, whether characteristic or assumed."
This means that a person's posture is caused by two primary, yet often overlooked, things:
- Our everyday lifestyle and/or work habits
- Our personality and/or body type
Having proper posture involves sitting or standing erect with all body parts in alignment. Because the human body was created to function in a very precise way, a person's posture has direct and often immediate effects on the efficiency of their entire body.
The Top 10 Negative Effects of Bad Posture
The negative effects of bad posture are so well-known that they are being talked about on daytime TV. Dr. M. Marshall from the Saturday Early Show actively advocates for posture improvements. The topic has been discussed on the Dr. Oz Show, The View, QVC and several others. In fact, new research is suggesting that bad posture can even negatively affect children.
It probably comes as no surprise that improper posture is bad for us all. Below are the 10 most common (and the most immediately noticeable) ways that your body's position can affect the quality of your life:
- It can make your body sore.
- It can create chronic pains.
- It can decrease the efficiency of your digestive system.
- It can make you look shorter.
- It can deplete your energy.
- It can make you look sad, depressed or disinterested.
- It can cause long-term damage to your body.
- It can make you look less attractive.
- It can limit the types of physical activities you do.
- It can reduce your lung capacity.
Realize that decreased lung capacity can have some serious effects on a person's body. According to experts, reduced oxygen supplies in the blood stream can lead to chronic disease and general unwellness.
Understanding How Posture Affects Breathing and Lung Capacity
Imagine trying to blow up a balloon with someone sitting on it. Not easy, right? That's a great comparison to how your lungs feel when posture is poor. The diaphragm, which directs the in-out movement of oxygen to your lungs, is significantly constrained when you slouch. Placing restrictions on your lungs makes it much harder to breathe, causing immediate effects and posing the threat of serious health problems over time.
An adequately oxygenated body functions noticeably better. Proper posture keeps everything in top working condition because it provides room for your lungs to fully inflate with each breath. Shallow breathing leaves your organs starving for air, and less air means less energy. Reduced energy due to a depleted oxygen supply is not only uncomfortable and inconvenient but it's also quite dangerous, especially if it happens a lot.
10 Warning Signs Your Lung Capacity is Reduced Because of Your Posture
It's not difficult to tell whether breathing or lung capacity is affected by the way you hold your body. Usually, the consequences are immediately noticeable. Other times, it may take days or even months to realize there's a problem.
Pay close attention to your body over the next few weeks. If you have any of the following symptoms, your posture may be responsible for an inadequate supply of oxygen to your body (and that includes your brain by the way):
- Shortness of breath
- Yawning
- Feeling the need to take deep breaths often
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Vision problems
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Irritability
Fortunately, correcting posture is easy. It can be done at home or with the help of a licensed chiropractor. To make your breaths more beneficial and less damaging to your body, seek help as soon as possible.
5 Surefire Ways to Correct Your Posture
Nobody is happy, healthy or comfortable when they're constantly gasping for a breath. It can feel like you're drowning; it can affect everything you do. Luckily, it's never too late to correct bad posture and reclaim the lungs full of fresh air you deserve.
Putting a stop to bad posture habits requires minimal knowledge of the human body but maximum appreciation for the way it works. The chiropractors situated in Anchorage and all over the world respect the mechanics of anatomy and have the training to correct the damage that's been done.
To increase your lung capacity and prevent long-term negative effects to your body, use the following 5 posture-correcting tips and tricks:
Don't Underestimate the Impact of Your Work Space.
Be sure to sit up straight while you're at work. If possible, try to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day.
Fit a Workout into Your Busy Schedule.
Routine exercise not only improves your mood and overall health but it can also correct your posture over time.
Do Stretches Often.
Stretching your stiff body will naturally correct problems in your posture, plus it feels great after you've been inactive for a while.
See a Chiropractor Regularly.
Chiropractic adjustments are an effective and inexpensive prevention measure against the effects of bad posture. A licensed chiropractor can also take x-rays to check for underlying problems.
Sleep and Sit on Posture-Supporting Surfaces.
The mattress you sleep on and the couch you lounge on play a huge role in the way you hold your body. Swap the old stuff for new furniture that promotes proper posture.
