There is no doubt that water is essential for good health generally and this is particularly true with regard to back problems. Those who do not have a proper intake of water are much more likely to suffer difficulties and pain in joints, muscles and elsewhere. Also some parts of the body do not manage to get water so easily and so can be more prone to becoming dehydrated. This is of especially the case where joint endings and the spinal discs are concerned.
The vertebrae in your spine are kept apart by the discs. If they are not hydrated correctly then they cannot work as they should. It is not surprising then that inadequate water intake can easily be one of the reasons for back problems giving rise to pain and discomfort, and in particular lower back pain and sciatica. On the other hand making sure that you are correctly hydrated can help to relieve or reduce the prospect of back pain.
The job which the discs perform is to act as a spacer and shock absorber to maintain the vertebrae separated and functioning happily. The role of water in this job is to ensure that the discs are at their full size, which is what will be the case when they are hydrated. The task the discs have is a heavy one because the weight of the body will be borne by the discs and further down the spine the weight obviously is greater. No surprise then that lower back pain is amongst the most common complaints that people suffer from.
As the day progresses the burden imposed on each disc whilst you are upright presses water out of it. In this way it becomes compressed and less able the act as a shock absorber. It is no longer so flexible. If you do not have an appropriate water consumption the disc situation will be even worse. The disc with only minimal hydration may well be unable to support the burden and respond with swellings or ruptures (better known as a slipped disc, but in reality more probably a burst or herniation) when some stressful activity, such as bending over, is imposed on it.
Now consider the position you get up in the morning. You will have been lying down for a number of hours and there will have been none of the usual weight on the discs. Naturally the discs will have had the opportunity to re-hydrate whilst you were asleep. One consequence of this will be a slight increase in your height overnight. This would not be instantly noticeable for the increase would probably not be more than one centimetre. But the increase can be shown with delicate measuring. Another result of the improved disc function enjoyed when you first get up will normally be that you may have less back pain. The discs are in better shape and are supporting the spine more effectively.
So much then for the question of disc problems due to lack of water. But spinal discs damage is not the only result of inadequate hydration. There is also the matter of the effect on the cells in your muscles. If these are lacking in water they will not respond so well to the demands placed upon them, and spasms and similar difficulties are then probable.
What then do you need to bear in mind with regard to water intake? First that you should drink an adequate amount of quality water during the day. Water is a vital element for you and your back. And that quality is important too; because if the water is sweet and fresh you will enjoy the taste and want to drink it. Secondly it should be remembered that alcohol and drinks such as coffee and tea being diuretics will deplete the water in your body and will not assist proper hydration.
During warm weather and when undertaking vigorous exercise, be sure to take enough water to make up for the amount that you will lose through perspiration. Of course you will have to decide what is the proper intake of water for yourself having regard to you activities and the temperature each day. Also you have to avoid the danger of overdoing the water intake. Too much water can cause a loss of essential body sodium and electrolytes, with ill effects on muscles and heart. You need water for a properly functioning back and discs but you have to learn what is right for yourself. Respond to your body and be alert to what it tells you is needed.
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