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IS BACK PAIN KILLING US?

By: Dr. Donna A. Pontoriero, Chiropractor


Published in the European Journal of Pain, a study of 4,390 Danish Twins aged more than 70 years investigated whether spinal pain increased the rate of all-cause and disease-specific cardiovascular mortality. Low back pain is a major problem, ranked as the highest contributor to disability in the worrld.

The study found that compared to those without spinal pain, a person with spinal pain has a 13 percent higher chance of dying every year. This is a significant finding, as many people think that back pain is not life threatening.

Spinal pain may be part of a pattern of poor health and poor functional ability, which increases mortality risk in the older population. With a rapidly growing aging population, spinal health is critical in maintaining older age independence, highlighting the importance of spinal pain in primary health care as a presenting symptom.

Recent research has also found that commonly prescribed medications for back pain such as anti-inflammatory drugs are ineffective in treating pain and have side effects.

This Study follows previous research which found that people with depression are 60 percent more likely to develop low back pain in their lifetime.

Fast Facts:

  • Back pain affects approximately 700 million people worldwide.
  • Back pain is the leading cause of disability globally.
  • The lifetime prevalence of back pain is around 84 percent.

Chiropractors offer an excellent alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs for pack pain.


Please contact our office if you would like further evaluation on your condition.

Dr. Donna Pontoriero can be reached at 299 Franklin Ave, Nutley NJ 07110, 973-235-9393.