Back pain is a common condition that affects most people at some point in their lifetime, according to the NHS.
It usually gets better by itself within a few weeks or months, and isn’t normally anything to worry about.
Making some small dietary swaps could help to get rid of the painful condition.
Eating pretzels could be making your back pain worse, it’s been claimed.
Patients that often suffer from back pain should avoid eating pretzels, according to the Illinois Back Institute.
The salty snack is a type of refined grain, which can lead to inflammation, it claimed.
Inflammation is one of the key causes of chronic lower back pain, said the institute.
Pretzels are just one of a number of refined grain products that patients should avoid, including cereal, cracks and pasta, it added.
“Most people don’t recognise that nutrition and pain are interrelated,” it said.
“The bones, muscles and other structures in the spine need good nutrition and vitamins so that they are strong enough to support the body and to perform their other functions.”
“Inflammation can be experienced as painful joints and/or muscles, a loss of the ability to move freely, and painful swelling.
“But recent research has shown that our dietary habits promote a state of chronic inflammation in your body that could leading to serious diseases like diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and multiple sclerosis.
“The food we eat is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to controlling inflammation.”
All processed and fast foods should be avoided to lower the risk of back pain, it added.
Corn oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil and soybean oil could also lead to lower backache.
Lower back pain is the most common type of back pain in the UK, said the NHS.
For short-term relief from backache, patients could try using anti-inflammatory painkillers, it said.
Alternatively, try using hot or cold compression packs. A bag of frozen peas works just as well.
Speak to a GP if you have back pain and a numbness around the genitals.
A swelling in the back, difficulty passing urine, or chest pain should also be seen by a doctor if it’s accompanied by back pain.