How Your Spinal Health Affects the Rest of Your Health
May 05, 2025
Your spine does more than just keep you upright — although that’s part of its job! The reality is that your spine is directly linked to the rest of your health. When your spine is out of alignment or experiencing issues like herniated discs, it can impact everything from your nervous system to your ability to move comfortably.
Here’s a closer look at how your spinal health affects the rest of your health, courtesy of our team of experts at Link Neuroscience Institute.
Your spine contains and protects your spinal cord — a part of your nervous system that allows you to move, feel, and function. Your spinal cord is the main communication highway between your brain and body.
When your spine is misaligned or compressed, it can put pressure on your nerves. When your nerves are irritated or compressed, you may experience pain, numbness, and even dysfunction in different organs.
Conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis can interfere with nerve signals, which can affect everything from your digestion to your immune response. For example, if your cauda equina nerves — the nerves near the bottom of your spine — are compressed, you can lose bladder and bowel function. This condition is called cauda equina syndrome, a medical emergency.
Back pain can contribute to constipation in another way. Some pain medications can increase your risk of constipation, so if you’re taking pain medication for back pain, you may experience this side effect. This is so common it even has its own name: opioid constipation.
A misaligned, weakened, or damaged spine can make it difficult to maintain good posture. This can then lead to chronic pain in your neck and shoulders.
A properly aligned spine allows blood and oxygen to circulate efficiently throughout your body. Spinal misalignment, such as from scoliosis, can lead to tension and restricted blood flow, which may contribute to fatigue, dizziness, and decreased organ function.
Back pain from arthritis or pinched nerves may make it hard for you to exercise, so you could miss out on the cardiovascular benefits of exercise if you can’t partake.
Problems with your spine can also affect your respiratory system. For example, the Thoracic Research Society shares that both scoliosis and kyphosis can cause lung issues called thoracic insufficiency syndrome. This can lead to labored breathing, breathlessness, and fatigue.
Chronic spine pain — whether that’s from your cervical spine or lumbar spine — can take a toll on your mental health. Pain and depression have a complex relationship. Pain can make depression more intense and vice versa. Depression can decrease your pain tolerance.
Even if you didn’t previously have depression, living with chronic pain can lead to chronic pain-induced depression.
Your spine doesn’t just affect your physical and mental health — it can impact your social well-being too. If pain becomes too intense, it can keep you from enjoying outings with friends and family. This can then lead to isolation and a lower quality of life.
Here are some simple ways to keep your spine healthy:
If you have back pain, don’t try to power through it on your own. At Link Neuroscience Institute, we understand just how vital your spine is and how it affects every aspect of your life. Our expert team is here to help diagnose the cause of your pain and provide the right treatment to get you moving comfortably again.
Call the location closest to you — Camarillo, Santa Barbara, or Oxnard, California — or use our online scheduling system to book your next appointment.