Much of my formative years were in the 1970s. Some of the memories of those times involved the clothing we wore; earth shoes, painted-on jeans and bomber jackets always come to mind. Like many fashion trends, style often comes before comfort and in some situations, even one’s health is sacrificed for the sake of style.
Here are some ways your choice of clothing may be affecting your health and wellness:
Footwear. Not too long ago I decided to give up on wearing dress shoes at work. Nearly all sports shoe companies are making stylish footwear that maintains athletic support. If you are on your feet for a large part of your day, dress shoes may not be the best choice. And high heels? If you want to maintain back health, ditch the heels.
Neckties. In my earlier days of practice, I would wear ties at work. Aside from the tie dangling into the patient’s face, I also found it caused me neck pain. Research is telling us neckties negatively affect posture, and possibly affect blood flow to the brain.
Tight pants. Years ago, I was proud of myself when I found a pair of $300 jeans dirt cheap at an outlet store. The purchase proved not so smart because they were so tight that I became dizzy within a half-hour of wearing them. Tight pants can affect circulation and even digestion. Loosen up.
Poor-fitting bra. I was beside myself the first time I joined my wife while she shopped for a bra. “How much was that?!?!?” The fitting took well over an hour, and the price was close to the cost of my golf driver. All worth it considering a poor fitting bra has potential health consequences such as postural stress, skin chafing and poor lymphatic drainage.
Backpacks and purses. As the Canadian Chiropractic Association recommends, “Pack it light, wear it right.” Not much more to say about that.
Tight underwear. Just like super tight pants, underwear can cause digestive issues as well if not fitting. Tight undergarments may limit your muffin top, the consequences may be the inability to even digest that muffin. For men, chronically tight underwear may lead to chronic DINKS (Double Income, No Kids).
Bling. Heavy and hazardous. Just like neckties, all that jewelry may be putting stress on your spine, plus evidence has shown that some jewelry may be made with not-so-safe substances like lead, chlorine, mercury, arsenic and dangerous flame-retardants. Maybe your bling should have a list of ingredients attached.
Belts. “Sure, you’re a 34…Not!!” Wear it low and you are a 34. Wear it where it should be, and you’re probably a 42. Wearing a tight belt too low can actually lead to nerve impingement. Numb thighs anyone?
Dressing for success is one thing, but more importantly you should be dressing with your health in mind.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
