| There is a hidden epidemic growing in society. It is | | | | of problems. Simple deterioration of bodily functions is |
| happening all around us, but while it is easily | | | | just a starter, anxiety attacks and even diabetes can |
| detectable with the bare eye, we're so used to | | | | result as well. |
| seeing it, we barely notice. | | | | With all of this going on, it's hardly a surprise that |
| I'm talking about the widening collective slump of | | | | people with forward head posture die earlier than |
| modern society, a.k.a. forward head posture: the | | | | their peers. Studies have shown that older men and |
| frontward head head, rounded shoulders, and | | | | women with advanced kyphosis have as much as a |
| rounded, hunched back. | | | | 44% greater rate of mortality. |
| This used to be the posture of old age. Not anymore. | | | | In short, if you want to live a long, happy, healthy |
| Next time you are in a crowd of people, take a look | | | | life, take steps to avoid this source of posture pain |
| around you. In its normal position, the head rests | | | | and long-term health complications. Here are three |
| effortlessly on top of a straight neck with the back | | | | tips to get your started. |
| of the ears roughly aligned with the middle of the | | | | 1. Take a look at your daily habits. Nothing has a |
| shoulders. How many people do you see around you | | | | greater impact on your posture than the habitual |
| whose head posture is aligned like that? Not many. | | | | posture you assume throughout the day. Your desk |
| And worse, this forward posture is no longer | | | | posture and having sufficient posture back support |
| restricted to the old and feeble. | | | | when you sit can make a big difference, particularly if |
| Forward head posture is not only unsightly, giving the | | | | you sit at your desk most of the day. The way you |
| impression of weakness and old age. It is a serious | | | | carry yourself when you run errands, how you sit |
| health hazard as well. If you have forward posture, | | | | when drive in your car or watch TV all go into |
| you may already be suffering the chronic headaches, | | | | shaping your posture over the long run. You'll get the |
| back, neck, and shoulder pain that results from a | | | | most posture improvement from simply by paying |
| habitual back hunch. As if that isn't bad enough, | | | | attention to your body posture throughout the day. |
| beneath these forward-posture symptoms a far | | | | 2. Corrective posture exercises make a big |
| more dangerous condition is developing: | | | | difference. They will help alleviate rounded shoulders |
| hyperkyphosis. Hyperkyphosis is the forward head | | | | and bad neck posture and reduce neck pain, tight |
| posture run amok. It is the bad posture of our | | | | shoulders, and even back pain. There are many |
| younger years at its extreme end of progression. | | | | resources for posture improvement exercises, look |
| And although less known than it's infamous cousin, | | | | for some that you do comfortably at home and |
| osteoporosis, it is just as injurious to your long-term | | | | even while sitting at your desk. |
| health. | | | | 3. Make posture correction a part of your fitness |
| New research shows that unless you take steps to | | | | routine. Most fitness routines don't address posture |
| stop advancing kyphosis, it will undermine your ability | | | | problems, in fact, if you start out with bad posture, |
| to live a healthy, happy life as you get older. The | | | | many types of fitness can actually exacerbate the |
| greater the back hunch, the more it impairs your | | | | issue. The exception is yoga and Pilates, both of |
| physical mobility. All of a sudden, it becomes difficult | | | | these types of workout help you strengthen the |
| to perform simple daily tasks like bathing and | | | | posture support muscles you need to strengthen |
| washing. And people with a slumped posture and bad | | | | your core and improve your posture. |
| forward head are far more likely to fall and hurt | | | | In the long run, focusing on correction of posture is |
| themselves. As a consequence, older people with | | | | one of the best investments you can make in your |
| extreme forward posture are at greater risk for | | | | health. It will impact how much energy you have, |
| fractures of the hip, leg, wrist, shoulder, and arm. | | | | how vital and happy are, and over the long term, |
| But it doesn't stop there. The forward posture of | | | | how well you age and how much you enjoy the later |
| hyperkyphosis also impairs breathing, becomes the | | | | years of your life. The older you get, and the more |
| sunken chest constricts the lungs. In other words, | | | | you see your friends sinking into an increasing back |
| your body is slowly being strangled! When you don't | | | | hunch, the more you'll thank yourself. |
| get enough oxygen, it leads to another whole slew | | | | |