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- 31 million Americans experience
low-back pain at any given time.
- One-half of all working Americans admit to having back
pain symptoms each year.
- Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed
work. In fact, back pain is the second most common
reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered
only by upper-respiratory infections.
- Most cases of back pain are mechanical or
non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious
conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection,
fracture or cancer.
- Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back
pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified
costs.
- Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population
will experience a back problem at some time in our
lives.
What Causes Back Pain?
The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints,
ligaments and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain
muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of
which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or
accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest of
movements—for example, picking up a pencil from the
floor— can have painful results. In addition, arthritis,
poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can
cause or complicate back pain. Back pain can also
directly result from disease of the internal organs,
such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots,
or bone loss.
Who gets back pain?
- Anyone can have back pain, but some things that
increase your risk are:
- Getting older. Back pain is more common the older you
get. You may first have back pain when you are 30 to 40
years old.
- Poor physical fitness. Back pain is more common in
people who are not fit.
- Being overweight. A diet high in calories and fat can
make you gain weight. Too much weight can stress the
back and cause pain.
- Heredity. Some causes of back pain, such as ankylosing
spondylitis, a form of arthritis that affects the spine,
can have a genetic component.
- Other diseases. Some types of arthritis and cancer can
cause back pain.
- Your job. If you have to lift, push, or pull while
twisting your spine, you may get back pain. If you work
at a desk all day and do not sit up straight, you may
also get back pain.
- Smoking. Your body may not be able to get enough
nutrients to the disks in your back if you smoke.
Smoker’s cough may also cause back pain. People who
smoke are slow to heal, so back pain may last longer.
What is the difference between acute and chronic
back pain?
Acute pain starts quickly and lasts less than 6 weeks.
It is the most common type of back pain. Acute pain may
be caused by things like falling, being tackled in
football, or lifting something heavy. Chronic pain lasts
for more than 3 months and is much less common than
acute pain. |
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