Back pain can be mild to severe and is experienced by a large percentage of Americans. The pain can be a constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that leaves you unable to move. Back pain can develop slowly over years or suddenly from moving the wrong way or picking up a heavy object. Back pain can also be a result of an accident. With all the different ways in which back pain can occur how can you identify the cause accurately? This article will examine the ways you can identify the pain you experience in your back.

Back pain can affect anyone although there are risk factors that increase a person's likelihood of having back problems. If you are a healthy individual, you do not experience any symptoms of low back pain until you are in your thirties or forties. Back pain becomes more frequent as a person ages. If you are not physically fit, your back and abdominal muscles may be weak and this leads to lower back pain. When the muscles are not strong, the back compensates by taking more of the weight thereby increasing the chances of muscle strain or some other type of damage. Another side to exercising is if a person who has not been active suddenly goes out and starts exercising - they will experience back pain - unless they begin slowly and warm up prior to beginning their exercise routine. It is vital to remember that if you have not been active in awhile to consult with your medical health care professional who will begin you on a moderate exercise program that will strengthen your back.

A person's diet can adversely affect their back. If you consume a diet that is high in calories and fat content and combine that with an inactive lifestyle, you are setting yourself up for back problems of some type, be they minor or severe in nature. Take a close look at your family genetics if you are experiencing back pain. Heredity can play an important role in areas such as disc disease. Race is another important factor when trying to determine the causes of back pain.

If you have ruled out genetics and racial factors, it is time to look at other diseases and their impact on your back. Certain forms of arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid), ankylosing spondylitis, and cancers that may have spread to the spine can contribute to back pain.

Take a close look at your job, does it require you to lift heavy objects. Are you performing tasks that require you to bend, twist, push, and pull (this involves your spine) that can lead to discomfort and/or injury. Those who sit at a desk are not immune to back pain either. If you sit for long periods, your back will become tense from inactivity. The pain may increase if your posture is poor and the ergonomics of your workstation are inadequate.

This may come as a surprise but cigarette smoking can affect back pain. Smoking may decrease your body's ability to deliver important nutrients that the discs in your lower back require. Another aspect of smoking is repeated coughing this can also lead to back pain. Besides the multitude of benefits, you receive when you quit smoking, decreasing your back pain ranks right up at the top.

Back pain is not a diagnosis by itself, rather it is a symptom of a medical condition. Here are a few problems that can contribute to back pain:

A mechanical problem is when you have difficulty with the way your spine moves or the pain you feel when you move your spine in certain directions. This can also include spasms, muscle tension, and ruptured discs, which are also called herniated discs.

Injuries to your spine such as sprains or fractures can lead to chronic or short-term pain. You can sprain the ligaments that support your spine through twisting or lifting objects improperly. Fractures mostly occur when the bones are weak.

If you are experiencing back pain, take a close look at your family's history with back problems and your working environment. Do not hesitate to see your health care professional for an examination and recommendations for treatment.