Low back pain is one of the most common physical ailments; eight in ten Americans have lower back pain at some point in their lives. There are numerous causes of low back pain, including sports injuries, sprains, and chronic conditions like arthritis. Most cases of back pain do not threaten your health, but see your doctor if you have sudden or severe pain. As you wait for your appointment with Dr. Kevin McElroy, the following tips can help you manage low back pain at home.

Maintain good posture

Keeping good posture when standing, sleeping, or walking eases the pressure on your lower back. Tapes, straps, or stretchy bands can help keep your spine in alignment. Ensure your head is always centered over your pelvis. Also, avoid craning your chin forward or slouching your shoulders.

If you work on your computer, keep your eyes level with the top of the screen and rest your arms evenly on the table or desk. It is also important to take small breaks after every 30 minutes; get off your chair and stretch and walk regularly.

Stay active

When in pain, the last thing you may want to do is engage in physical activities. However, this is the first thing your healthcare provider may recommend. If you have back pain, don’t fall for the common misconception that you can’t stay active. Try to maintain your usual daily activity level and movement. It can be going to the park with your dog or a brisk 30-minute walk. The aim should be to get on your feet at least three times weekly. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, the muscles around your spine become weak. Consequently, they don’t support the spine as they should, leading to chronic pain.

Stretch and strengthen your core

The abdominal core muscles are important in supporting your back and are better off when strong. When these muscles are strong and flexible, your risk of low back pain decreases. Specialists recommend stretching first thing in the morning. But if you are older or worried about overdoing it, wait until your body is warmed up later during the day before you can stretch and do strengthening exercises. Examples of activities that can help strengthen your core and muscles around your hips include Yoga, tai chi, and Pilates. You can also try lying on your tummy and lifting your legs and arms in the flying position; this exercise targets your entire upper and lower back.

Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight places extra weight on your back and puts you at risk of low back pain. But shedding excess weight lightens the load on your lower back and can help alleviate the pain. Weight loss helps with pain since it reduces the amount of mechanical force on the spine. Weight loss does not occur overnight; your doctor will advise you on a diet and exercise plan that may work best for you.

If your pain is severe or doesn’t improve with home remedies, visit your doctor at Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine for medical treatment to improve your quality of life.

Are you concerned about an upcoming drug test? Drug tests are common procedures during recruitment. Where permitted by law, regular drug testing can be conducted by employers. Organizations use several work-related Humble drug testing, including urine, blood, breath, saliva, hair, and sweat tests. Whether you are an athlete or in other setups, the common tests are designed to detect drugs such as alcohol, opiates, cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana, to name a few. If you are preparing for a drug test and worried about the results, here are a few pointers to consider.

Avoid certain foods and drinks

A favorable drug test result is easy if you typically live a drug-free lifestyle. However, some non-alcoholic drinks and foods can contain chemicals and additives that may affect your test. It helps if you try and avoid the following before testing:

• Avoid taking tea and coffee for at least 72 hours before a drug and alcohol test, as it can indicate a possible withdrawal from alcohol and drugs.
• Foods such as bananas, avocados, walnuts, and acidic fruits may contain high serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter found in illicit drugs. When these high levels appear on your drug test, they can be mistaken for illegal drug use.
• Seafood: Some seafood contains arsenic and heavy metals like mercury and lead, which may cause a false positive. Avoid eating seafood for at least 48 hours before the screening.

Try fasting the night before; it is among the best ways to avoid a bad alcohol and drug test result.

Avoid drinking too many fluids

Drinking too many fluids like water or cranberry juice may not help flush out any possible illegal drugs from your system. The worst part is that it can even dilute your test, making it inconclusive. If this is the case, you may be required to reschedule the screening for a different time and day. Unless a physician tells you to drink plenty of fluids before your test, keep the intake to a healthy minimum.

Avoid heavy exercise

Exercise seems like a great way to sweat and get rid of toxins. It is highly unnecessary to strain the body, striving to dispel unwanted substances. This is because most alcohol and drug tests are exceedingly sensitive and detect even the mildest drug levels.

Be truthful about the substances in your body

When asked, you will honestly disclose medication and other substances (legal or illegal) that you have consumed to the sample collector. Also, brief them on the food and drinks you have finished before the test so they can be noted in your records.

Follow the pre-screening instructions given by the physician

Before the specimen collection, ensure you understand the instructions given by your physician. This is to ensure you provide a viable specimen. Specimen handling may seem straightforward, but you can easily mess it up and get a bad result.

Drug tests can be overwhelming, especially if you are worried about your recent endeavors and what they may tell on the results. Visit or contact Calvary Urgent Care today to learn more about drug and alcohol testing and how to prepare.

Pelvic pain comes from the lower abdomen region and slightly above your legs. A study estimated that about 15%-20% of women in the country of childbearing age often have pelvic pains. Your pelvic area is vital for your body since that is where you find reproductive organs, including your womb, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Persistent Memorial City pelvic pain may emanate from many different health issues. For instance, you may have pain due to constipation, bladder issues, kidney problems, unusual protruding of your organs or tissues, uterine fibroids, sexually transmitted diseases, endometriosis, and menstruation cramps.

If you have to undergo pelvic surgery, the treatment will be expensive, and you are at greater risk of complications such as infections, bleeding, and injury to adjacent organs. For that reason, it is of significant benefit to you to find ways to relieve your pelvic pain non-surgically. Consequently, below are a few tips you may find helpful.

Exercise regularly

You will find it hard to exercise when you first try because of the excruciating pain. However, the more you try to exercise and not overdo it, the more your body adapts and makes it bearable.

Performing exercise is essential because it encourages optimum blood flow and releases feel-good hormones, like serotonin and oxytocin. The improved mood of the body is a natural way of killing lingering pain. Try walking, meditation, and yoga.

Use supplements

Your use of supplements should happen, especially when your long-lasting pelvic pain may be due to inadequate vital nutrients( minerals and vitamins) in your body. The supplement you take should have vitamins D and E and magnesium, which can help maintain normal blood pressure, increase energy levels, improve mood, and soothe your pain.

Before using any supplements, consult your health provider first. There is a higher possibility that your doctor may first recommend the use of over-the-counter drugs.

Acupuncture

As an alternative medicine, acupuncture involves inserting tiny needles into your skin at specific points of your body to alleviate pain and swelling.

Several studies show that acupuncture can treat pelvic pain, mainly if you go for treatment more than five times.

Avoid smoking

Smoking and tobacco products can affect your pelvic floor and cause pain differently. Generally, smoking introduces toxins to your bloodstream and damages your nerves.

If you have a chronic cough because of smoking, your pelvic floor muscles weaken gradually. A cough triggers the muscles to contract and strain, causing pain.

Also, the toxins in the smoke you inhale may irritate and damage your bladder, which can lead to you experiencing a loss of bladder control. Furthermore, smoking may cause cancer of the bladder.

Eat healthy food

For instance, carotene-rich foods like spinach and mangoes can help your body fight harmful bacteria and thus protect you against infections that can lead to pain in your pelvis. Also, ensure you regularly use turmeric and garlic as they are rich in sulfur, which is excellent for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation properties that can aid digestion and maintain a healthy belly.

Contact Memorial Women’s Specialists today to book an appointment for the evaluation and minimally invasive or conservative treatment of the underlying cause of your pelvic pain.