At some point, it’s likely you’ll experience back pain. About 80 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

The good news is that most back pain is acute and will resolve on its own. But you may wonder when you need to see a doctor. WellTuned spoke with Dr. Gordon Peters, a medical director with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, to find out.

When you can stay home

Dr. Peters: If you strained your back being a weekend warrior, you can often recover at home. Many cases of acute low back pain can be treated at home.

You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for relief. You can also apply ice packs to the affected area. The general rule of thumb is 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, several times per day. Some people prefer to use a heating pad, but you can try ice also.  You can also alternate applying ice and heat.

When to see a doctor

Dr. Peters: You should seek medical care if you injured your back as a result of impact or trauma, like a sports injury, a bad fall or a car accident.

If you injure your back, watch out for signs that you need to see a doctor. including:

• You can’t produce a bowel movement or urinate like normal.
• You have severe shooting pains in your legs.
• You’re experiencing new-onset numbness, tingling, or significant weakness in your legs
• You develop a fever.

How to reduce your chances of developing back pain

Dr. Peters: Aging is a major risk factor for back pain, and you can’t do much about that. Damage accumulates from years of wear and tear. You can also develop arthritis or other conditions that affect the bones, cartilage, discs, or ligaments.

Here are a few steps you can take to reduce your chances of injuring your back and developing back pain:

Lift correctly

Using proper lifting technique may help you avoid back injury. Too many people don’t think about the correct form when trying to lift something. They tend to bend at the waist and lift objects. You should squat first and then slowly straighten your legs.

Stretch

Take a little time to stretch your muscles to warm up before exercising or lifting an object.

Strengthen your core

If you’re not doing exercises to strengthen your core muscles, it’s time to start. These include planks, bridges, and crunches. Your core muscles are abdominal muscles, back muscles, and the muscles around the pelvis. A stronger core can help you keep your back positioned correctly and avoid getting injured.

Quit smoking

If you smoke, your back is another reason to quit smoking. Smoking impairs the body’s ability to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the spine. This can contribute to conditions like degenerative disc disease. Quitting also can improve the body’s ability to heal after injuries or surgeries.

Take care of your back

Dr. Peters: As people age, they also have to be more vigilant about keeping their bones strong. Those with family history of osteoporosis may want to consult their primary care provider and discuss preventive treatments.

“As you get older, you may also want to rethink certain activities like contact sports,” says Dr. Peters. “It can take a lot longer to bounce back from an injury that might not have slowed you down as much when you were younger. You could also switch to a non-contact sport. It’s important to stay active, but you need to manage risk versus reward.”

More from Dr. Peters on WellTuned

Get more information about specific health terms, topics and conditions to better manage your health on bcbst.com. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members can access wellness-related discounts on fitness products, gym memberships, healthy eating and more through Blue365®. BCBST members can also find tools and resources to help improve health and well-being by logging into BlueAccess and going to the Managing Your Health tab.