The Hindu : Kerala News : Back ache and women

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Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008
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Kerala

Back ache and women

According to medical historians back ache has been a disease since humans started walking on two legs. In addition to this, change in life style of humans has also contributed to the morbidity of back ache. At present, especially in Kerala, almost 70 percent of the patients with back ache are women. This is not just a health problem alone and it has its roots in socio-economic and cultural backwardness including discrimination against women. It’s more or less a gender issue.

For convenience, causes of back ache can be broadly classified into four such as back ache due to structural problem in vertebral system and its supporting structures, due to different type of arthritis, due to osteoporosis and due to other causes.

One of the major causes for back ache is due to structural problem in vertebral system and its supporting structures. This may happen due to sprain, strains or injuries. Arthritis is yet another reason behind prolonged back ache. It affects joints in addition to other organs. As the vertebral bodies also have facet joints many of this group of diseases present with back ache. Steroids and other drugs like immunosuppressive agents may be needed in such conditions.

Osteoporosis is decrease in bone mineral density and more or less is linked to an aging process and results in back ache. But in post-menopausal women, rate of osteoporosis is high due to withdrawal of hormones like estrogen. Hence it result in back ache and usually such patients are above 50 years of age.

Back ache due to other causes include different types of cancers in breast, cervix, prostate, lungs etc. Many infections can also surface as back ache especially viral infections. Diseases of the uterus, kidney, menstrual problems, urinary bladder problems and even psychological problems can crop up as low back ache. However, certain changes in life style can definitely reduce the incident of backache

Dr Santhosh Kumar S. S.

Deputy Medical Supdt.

Unit Chief ORTHO II

Department of Orthopaedics

Pariyaram Medical College,

Kannur

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