There is no denying that a healthy diet is integral to overall wellness and staying hydrated is absolutely vital. Every organ, every cell in your body contains water. In fact, when you don’t drink enough water and keep your body properly hydrated, it does not function as it should.
We’ve seen many people at Surrey Family Chiropractic & Massage who are running on fumes when it comes to hydration. We’ve even had staff who couldn’t remember the last time they sat down and drank a glass of water. It is easy to forget about water, particularly if you work indoors away from the sun and heat, but getting enough is vital to everyone’s health regardless of activity.
The health of your spine and back depends heavily on whether you are properly hydrated.
Overview of Spinal Construction
To understand water’s role in spinal health, you first need to understand how the spine is constructed. The row of bones that make up the spine are called vertebrae. Between each vertebra is a disc. This disc works like a shock absorber so as you bend, flex, and move about the disc provides a buffer so the bones do not rub together.
Each disc is comprised of two parts. The center of the disc is the nucleus pulposis. It is made up mostly of water. The nucleus pulposis is surrounded by a tough, flexible ring that contains a gelatinous substance. It protects the inner area which is the cushion for the vertebrae. Two factors that further complicate the rehydration of the discs are aging and sedentary lifestyles.
How Water is Good for your Back
As you go about your daily activities, each time you move, the spine compresses the disc, squeezing out the water within. Even walking or sitting upright can cause this as gravity causes the spine to compress. When the disc does not have adequate water, the result is pain and lack of mobility as well as increased risk of spinal injury.
When you are not properly hydrated your body cannot replenish the water in the discs, causing them to remain compressed. Beverages like soda are not adequate for effective hydration…in fact, many soft drinks, coffee, and other common beverages are diuretics which contribute to dehydration.
For years we were told that 8 eight ounce glasses of water a day (64 ounces) was the rule for proper hydration, and that works for many people. However, an article in the Harvard Health Letter suggests that the body can be properly hydrated with 30 to 50 ounces of water a day. The article goes on to suggest that water can also be found in foods like spinach, watermelon, soups, and lettuce are also good sources for hydration.
Spinal Problems caused by Dehydration
When the body is dehydrated the discs remain compressed instead of refilling, and when the discs cannot refill they can’t do their job. When that happens the overall function of the spine is compromised. Your constant back pain may actually be caused by dehydration.
Hydration also plays an important role in how the cerebrospinal fluid moves and works. While it does require more than water to function properly, water does play an important role. When the body is dehydrated this fluid cannot move as it should, even affecting brain function.
On a larger scale, when the body is dehydrated it begins to retrieve water from other parts of the body so it can reroute it to the vital organs and sustain life. The extremities are the first places it pulls water from and the spine is another. When the spine is deprived of water in order to supply the organs, the spine’s owner remains in a constant deficit which can cause pain and mobility problems.
How the Spine Rehydrates
As the body rehydrates itself, it does not assign the spine as a priority. The vital organs take precedence so the spine basically gets what is left over. If there is already a deficiency present, there may be nothing left over to rehydrate the spine.
When there is adequate water in the body, normal activity and movement aids in the rehydration of the discs. The most significant rehydration, however, occurs while you sleep. When you lie down and rest, your body is best able to initiate the process of rehydrating your spinal discs via osmosis. This is a good reason to have a glass of water before bed, even if it makes you get up to use the washroom during the night.
If you come in for a treatment with us, you’ll notice that Dr. Caulfield often has you drink a glass of water after an adjustment to get the maximum benefit out of releasing compressed discs in your spine. So if you are have general back pain, consider your water intake. Could you, too, be running on fumes?