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Winter Back Pain and Vitamin D: A Connection?

You know, I love winter. I really do. It has its own special beauty. The season’s first snowfall is magical. And let’s not forget winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and ice skating.

But there’s no doubt that winter has its less cheery side. Aside from the fact that (obviously) it’s pretty chilly, at least in many areas of the globe, winter can bring along with its frosty whiteness a whole host of bodily aches, pains and complaints.

We recently addressed Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and how it can make you…well…sad. Indeed, depression is SAD’s number one symptom among sufferers. In addition, SAD can contribute to a host of very real, and very life-affecting, illnesses and maladies. And all that combined really can be serious.

All evidence leads back to the same culprit when it comes to the winter blues: a lack of sunlight. Now new research claims back pain – a complaint we hear about often for a variety of reasons – can be linked to too little sunshine, too. It all boils down, experts say, to Vitamin D, or rather a lack of it during times of the year when sunshine is at its weakest.

The important hormone precursor Vitamin D is responsible for a big chunk of our total body and mind health, according to those in the medical profession. Experts say that back pain, too, may be caused, or aggravated, by too little Vitamin D.

It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds…in fact, it’s entirely logical: Vitamin D helps the body to absorb the calcium that a person ingests daily (in either food or vitamin form). So if you’re getting too little of it, you may be processing calcium into your body less effectively than during the warmer, brighter months. If you’re already prone to bone issues, lowered Vitamin D could, unfortunately, be just the thing to make you experience back pain – whether mild or, for more affected individuals, sometimes debilitating.

It doesn’t do to self-diagnose, and there CAN be such a thing as too much of a good thing, so don’t rush off to your local chemist yet for a bottle of Vitamin D; if you suspect this type of issue, see your doctor. A simple blood test will determine whether your body is processing enough of the vitamin for body health. If your doctor finds that this is the case, it really is as simple a matter as dosing up on the inexpensive, over-the-counter vitamin (or running an initial course of heavy-duty doctor prescribed pills for several weeks, then leveling off).

The more you know about possible contributors to back pain, the better your chances for living a more pain-free, and almost certainly happier, life. So check this possible issue out if you’re finding wintertime to be a pain in the neck (or back) this winter.

If you are suffering from back pain then the all over support offered by the visco elastic properties of a Tempur Mattress could help. Similarly a Tempur Pillow could help with neck pain.

Shedding Light on SAD

Winter can be wonderful, but be on the lookout for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), experts are warning.

Some three million Brits suffer from the disorder each year, according to statistics in this article.

SAD, sometimes known as “the winter blues,” happens when the body doesn’t receive as much sunlight/daylight as it needs, a common occurrence during winter months, when days are shorter and sunlight is generally weaker.

Symptoms of SAD are the same as those of typical depression and may include a lower activity level, a need for more sleep than during sunnier months, lethargy and weight gain.

Light boxes can help, some experts advise; these give the body an artificial dose of the light it so badly needs during the darker, colder months and can even reset an “off” circadian rhythm (see our blog post “Is It a Delayed Phase Sleep Disorder?”, on our sister site).

Don’t suffer – look for help if you’re experiencing possible symptoms of SAD. More info on the disorder and how to get help

If you are feeling down why not treat yourself to a really comfortable Tempur Visco Foam Mattress and make sure you get a great night’s sleep.

Choosing the Perfect Pillow; Tempur Can Help!

Supporting your head the right way can help with snoring, reduce neck pain and more.

Few people can think of curling up for the night without a pillow. But there are other occasions besides your standard overnight rest where the right pillow can come in handy. Here are a few great uses for this little invention that looks like a softie but packs a big health punch for your neck and spinal alignment health – and can add comfort to almost any situation.

1. Travel Pillows/Transit Pillows.

Travel can be a pain in the neck – literally. In fact, attempting a few quick winks on a car, airplane or train can not only leave you with a stiff neck but aching shoulders, arms and even a painful back. Why? Because proper spinal alignment during a vulnerable time – sleep, when your muscles are relaxed and not as supportive of the bones underneath them – is essential. Compounding the problem, few people are able to stretch out naturally (with legs extended) in cramped travel quarters. Before embarking on your next trip, invest in a great travel pillow that will conform to your body’s shape while providing great support. You’ll be glad you did.

2. Neck Pillows.

Supporting the neck properly is essential during your regular sleep times, too. A special neck pillow/neck support pillow – which generally has a “hump” supporting the neck and a slight indentation area where the head lies – keeps your neck aligned to prevent or lessen snoring, keep airways open and hold the neck in a healthy position while you rest. Don’t forget your neck pillow when you’re on the road; hotel pillows are notoriously unsupportive and may leave you feeling worse instead of better when you wake up in the morning.

3. Visco Elastic Pillows.

If you suffer from vertebrae issues in your back, your neck or both, standard pillow stuffing may not do. Look for an ultra-supportive material with just enough give to conform to your body without allowing your neck to sag and become uncomfortable. We suggest Tempur visco elastic material for both pillows and mattresses for this purpose. This magical material takes on your body’s shape but gives significant support where it’s needed, and it fills out into its original shape when not in use.

4. Roll or Design Pillows.

Roll- or cylinder-shaped pillows are perfect for active sleepers. (Those of you who wake up in a completely different position, and possibly on a different side of the bed, than when you bedded down for the night know exactly what I mean here.) A longer pillow allows you to move a bit in bed and switch sleeping sides without landing on the mattress, pillowless, in the middle of the night.

Sleep tight – and comfortably!