The Connection Between Lower Back Pain and Lack of Sleep

Millions of people suffer with lower back pain. In fact, it’s one of the leading reasons why many men and women call in sick to work. There are lots of things that can make your back hurt. Injuries, diseases, herniated disc and stress are at the top of the list of causes but lack of sleep may also be a factor. Most everyone knows that lack of sleep can cause fatigue and irritability but they don’t know just how serious not getting enough sleep can be.

Did you know that if you went several days with no sleep at all that you’ll begin to hallucinate and it would be impossible to function properly? Of course, it would be very rare for a person to go several consecutive days without any sleep but many people do make a habit of not getting enough sleep each night and this can take its toll on you as well.

After going a day or two with very little sleep, you’ll begin to feel tired, become cranky and you may find it difficult to concentrate. The longer you go without the proper amount of sleep, the worse these symptoms become. For example, instead of being cranky, you may find yourself getting angry for no apparent reason or over little things that don’t really even matter.

Instead of feeling tired, you may find yourself falling asleep in the middle of the day when you’re at work or when driving. You won’t be as coordination as you should be. Your ability to focus and concentrate can completely fade away if you go for a long period without getting enough sleep. Over time, your personality can even change and your immune system can be compromised.

Why Does Lack of Sleep Cause so Many Problems?

There is still much to learn about the importance of sleep but it is known that if you don’t get enough sleep, it can cause a lot of health problems. Your body needs sleep to rejuvenate. This is when it heals sore muscles and repairs damaged tissues. Sleeping restores energy and so much more.

When you don’t get enough sleep, your immune system has to work harder to try and compensate to keep your body functioning correctly. Before long, it starts to give out and you can get sick easier. Many people tend to overeat because they think they’re hungry when in reality, they’re just tired. Your body just can’t function properly when you don’t get at least eight hours of sleep a night and the longer you go without sleeping, the worse it will get.

How Does Lack of Sleep Affect Lower Back Pain?

Lack of sleep and lower back pain are connected. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body begins to respond in a negative way and eventually you’ll become anxious and depressed. Anxiety and depression are two of the main things that create stress in a person’s life and stress can cause lower back pain. Therefore, lack of sleep can cause this type of pain in an indirect way.

It can also make your muscles weaker and you less aware of your surroundings. As a result, you’re more careless when lifting and doing other activities, which can lead to injuries that can affect the lower back. It also makes it harder for your body to recover from injuries. The connection between lower back pain and lack of sleep is real and you may even be able to reduce or eliminate the pain you feel simply by getting more sleep each night.