Here are five key notes:
1. Eight in 10 Americans suffer from back pain.
2. By 2040, the number of Americans 65 years and older will increase to 22 percent of the country’s population.
3. Dr. Chang noted older adults may experience arthritis, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis or frail vertebrae.
4. He suggests older adults exercise to strengthen their spinal columns and maintain a healthy weight.
5. Dr. Chang also noted older adults should refrain from smoking, as it “lessens the flow of nutrients to spinal discs.”
“An aging body means the spine is aging, too,” said Dr. Chang. “But while certain back conditions are more common among older adults, there are also more ways than ever to combat the effects of getting older on the spine.”
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