Approximately five million Americans suffer from chronic open sores that can become seriously infected, gangrenous and in some cases require amputation. This is often due to limited blood flow which can slow the body's own healing process. Many patients seek professional help for wounds that have not healed after months of standard wound treatment. In the majority of patients, treatment programs produce complete healing, usually with a few months.
Americans by the millions are going on diets, running, stepping and crunching to work off those excess pounds. Unfortunately, there are many young to middle-aged adults whose health is being jeopardized by morbid obesity—people who are at least 100 pounds overweight or twice their ideal weight. This excess weight often limits their ability to succeed and move ahead in both business and social situations. They also risk such life-threatening conditions as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, orthopedic problems, gall bladder disease and sleep apnea.
The health care workers that are most likely to develop a back injury and/or pain are those with jobs that require them to lift or move patients. Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants had more back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) than any other occupation in 1999, according to data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Based
on the average cost stated above, nationally, the
approximately 67,000 back injuries among
health care workers could total $1.7 billion in
workers’ compensation.
