Only Diabetes, Heart Disease More Costly Than Spine Pain
Category: Spine Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
New findings published in the most recent Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that spine pain is the third most costly health condition plaguing Americans, trailing only diabetes and heart disease on an annual basis.
The analysis, conducted by researchers at the University of Washington, revealed that the top 20 most costly health conditions account for more than half of all the U.S. health spending. Researchers examined 155 conditions in total, and the total bill these health conditions cost Americans is astounding.
Annual Cost Of Health Conditions
Here’s a look at the ten most costly health conditions facing Americans today:
- Diabetes – $101.4 billion
- Heart Disease – $88.1 billion
- Low back and neck pain – $87.6 billion
- Hypertension – $83.9 billion
- Injuries from falls – $76.3 billion
- Depressive disorders – $71.1 billion
- Oral surgery (fillings, extractions, dentures) – $66.4 billion
- Vision and hearing – $59 billion
- Skin-related (cellulitis, acne) – $55.7 billion
- Pregnancy and postpartum care – $55.6 billion
The authors noted that the general subject of cancer was not analyzed for the study; instead the disease was broken down into 29 different subsets.
The fact that spine pain is number three on the list is significant, but unfortunately it is not all that surprising. Our spines are both extremely durable and sensitive, and all it takes is for one spinal nerve to become compressed or one spinal disc to shift slightly to leave a person in crippling spine pain.
However, it’s worth noting that prevention techniques for the top four conditions are very similar. As long as you get regular exercise and eat a balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals, you’ll be on a path to lowering your risk of diabetes, heart disease, spine pain and hypertension.
Minneapolis Spine Doctor
So now that the new year is year, let’s see if we can reduce the total cost of spine injuries on the healthcare system. Let’s strive to take care of our spines in 2017 by exercising and eating right, and if a problem begins to develop, consult with a doctor while the condition is in its infancy to ensure it doesn’t spiral out of control. For more information on what you can do to keep your spine healthy, set up a consultation with Dr. Sinicropi today.
