What causes lumbar disc herniation?

Lumbar disc herniation, a common orthopedic disease, has various causes, including trauma, obesity and overweight, genetic factors, unhealthy living habits, occupational factors, and degenerative changes of the lumbar disc.

1. Trauma: Improper external impact, such as car accidents, falls or lumbar sprains, may directly lead to disc annular tearing and nucleus pulposus herniation. Long-term and repeated minor injuries can also accelerate the degeneration of the disc.

2. Obesity and overweight: Excessive weight increases the pressure on the lumbar intervertebral disc, which can easily cause degeneration and rupture of the intervertebral disc fiber ring in the long run.

3. Genetic factors: Some studies have shown that collagen deficiency or gene mutation in the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc may lead to damaged its integrity, making lumbar disc herniation more likely to occur.

4. Bad living habits: Sitting for long periods of time, driving for long periods of time or lack of exercise will increase the load on the lumbar spine and accelerate the degeneration of the intervertebral disc. In particular, maintaining an unhealthy sitting posture for a long time, such as hunching over, will greatly increase the risk of lumbar disc herniation.

5. Occupational factors: People who engage in heavy physical labor or require long periods of sitting for a long time, such as drivers, office workers, etc., are prone to intervertebral disc herniation due to continuous lumbar load.

6. Degenerative changes in the lumbar intervertebral disc: As age increases, the lumbar intervertebral disc will naturally undergo degenerative changes. This is the most fundamental cause of lumbar disc herniation. The intervertebral disc gradually loses moisture and elasticity, becomes fragile and vulnerable, and is prone to herniation.

Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding long periods of sitting or standing, regularly doing waist exercises to strengthen waist muscles, paying attention to the correct working posture, and avoiding severe external impacts on the waist are all effective measures to prevent lumbar disc herniation. Once symptoms such as low back pain and lower limb numbness occur, you should seek medical attention in time for early detection and treatment.