According to the World Health Organization, back pain affects 619 million people worldwide, a staggering number that continues to rise.
Back problems stem from various issues, including injuries and conditions like degenerative disc disease. Genetics may play a role. Awareness of a genetic predisposition lets you stay on top of spine health.
Dr. Steven J. Svabek provides back pain services at his practice in Coral Springs, Florida. He offers noninvasive and surgical treatments for various causes of back pain, which include SI joint dysfunction and spinal stenosis.
Back pain occurs for various reasons. Maybe you tweaked your back picking up your kid's toys or developed pain after years of working a strenuous job. Either way, back pain can affect every aspect of life.
The symptoms of back pain may come on suddenly or over time, depending on the cause. Common causes of back pain include:
These problems affect spinal structures, including ligaments, muscles, intervertebral discs, and nerves. You may be at a higher risk for these issues if you have a family history of spine conditions.
Unfortunately, some back problems are genetic. Not all issues run in families, but knowing if you have a genetic predisposition to back problems can help. Knowing your risk enables you to take extra precautions to maintain a healthy spine.
The following conditions have a genetic component, which could increase your chances of developing them at some point:
You can inherit degenerative disc disease from your parents, leading to issues with the intervertebral discs that cushion the vertebrae. However, genetics aren’t the only cause of DDD; obesity, spine injuries, and poor posture can also lead to DDD.
Parents can pass spondylolisthesis to their kids. The condition occurs when one vertebra slips in front of another. Other causes include acute injuries and congenital spinal disabilities.
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine with a genetic component. Not all cases are due to a family history. Still, if you have a close relative with scoliosis, you’re likely to develop it in childhood.
Kyphosis is another type of unnatural spine curvature. It affects the upper portion of the spine, causing a hunched-over appearance. As with scoliosis, kyphosis has a genetic component.
Congenital kyphosis and Scheuermann's kyphosis both run in families. If a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) has either disorder, it's more likely to affect you.
This issue is an inflammatory arthritis condition that affects the spine. It's highly genetic, although the exact cause isn’t known. A certain gene increases the risk of ankylosing spondylitis, although not everyone with the gene develops it.
There's good news regarding genetic back problems — you can often avoid them through a healthy lifestyle. Genetics only plays a small role in developing back issues.
How you live your life plays a much more significant role in back problems. A job requiring a lot of bending or lifting, for example, can damage your spine and surrounding structures, which may lead to back issues.
Changing jobs may not be possible, but you can learn to lift heavy objects correctly and move with good mechanics to prevent strain on the muscles and spine.
Maintaining a healthy weight is another way to prevent excess load on the spine. Obesity puts extra pressure on the spine and discs, leading to degeneration of the soft tissues and arthritis.
Regular low-impact exercise is a great way to keep the spine healthy and prevent chronic pain. It might enable you to avoid back problems even with a family history.
Taking care of your body is the best way to avoid back issues, even if you have a genetic predisposition. Eat healthy, maintain good posture, and move purposefully regularly to ensure a healthy back as you age.
Call our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Svabek for back pain, or request an appointment online today.
