The REAL Reason Your Back Hurts
By
Natalie Moore
Posted May 6, 2017
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
Back pain seems like an unavoidable part of aging.
But what if those nagging pains and twinges actually have little to do with your age and more do with your medication?
According to some Texas researchers, this could be the case.
You see, a brand-new study shows that some popular heart drugs can send your chances of experiencing back troubles through the roof.
I’m talking about statins.
And since these dangerous drugs are linked to everything from diabetes to memory loss, researchers were curious to see how they affect your back.
For the study, investigators with the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System looked at the insurance claims of over 13,000 participants with similar health characteristics. Half were statin users and half were not.
After scouring the data, the researchers made an incredible discovery…
Folks taking statins were at a 27 percent greater risk for back problems!
These included arthritis of the spine, disc disorders and other back pain issues.
The researchers aren’t clear on exactly how statins affect the back, but believe it could be because these dangerous drugs can weaken muscles. Since the back is made of several large muscles, any weakness could cause pain and even result in spinal problems.
If you’re taking statins and experiencing back pain, talk to your doc about finding an alternative or taking the lowest possible dose.
Additionally, one of the best ways to keep your back pain-free is with regular exercise.
And I don’t mean training for a marathon. Instead, taking a daily walk around the neighborhood should be enough to help keep your back in good shape.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Sources
[1] Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
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