I was shocked to recently learn of the horrible effects of slouching and bad posture. Tell me I'm not the only one that grew up with her mother telling her not to slouch. I have reason to believe that my mother didn't like me slouching for aesthetic reasons and how it reflected on her, but it turns out that whatever her motivation: good posture is good for you and bad posture is bad for you.
Keep in mind that proper posture isn't really about standing up straight. The spine is curved so when your body is in proper alignment, your back will form a slight s-shape with a small curve near your neck and one at the lower spine. An s-shape is good, but a c-shape in your back is a sure sign that you are slouching. And the effects are actually pretty scary–I am not kidding you! Check yourself out right now and if you aren't standing or sitting correctly, make sure you do so you can avoid these terrible consequences.
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1. Slouching can make you pee yourself. Say what?! Many women suffer from bladder problems at some point in their life. You know those little leaks that happen when you laugh or cough? I mean I wouldn't know (cough, cough … yup, still totally dry), but I've heard. Well, if you are already having issues and you slouch, all you are doing is compressing your bladder, which will increase the chances of leakage.
2. Slouching interferes with your lung function. This one is kind of a no-brainer. How are you supposed to take a full breath if you are slumped over and compressing your chest? Slumping forward can reduce your lung capacity up to 30 percent.
3. Slouching can cause blood vessel constriction. When you change the alignment of your spine by slouching it can cause blood vessel constriction, which in turn affect the supply of blood being delivered to the cells in your muscles. Those cells need nutrients and oxygen being supplied by the blood.
4. Slouching can make you sad and tired. I always thought that sad and tired people slouch because they are sad and tired, but a study of 110 students at San Francisco State University found that those who walked in a hunched posture reported feeling more depressed and having lower energy levels than those who weren't hunched.
5. Slouching can give you headaches. Office work can be really counterproductive to good posture. Sitting in front of a computer screen can cause you to stick your neck and chin out in order to get a good view. This can pinch the trigeminal nerve and lead to headaches.
Are you convinced now that slouching is not good for you? Good posture in addition to making you look confident and slimmer, actually helps your body function better. Do yourself a favor and don't slouch.
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