HEALTH

Women put up with back pain for twice as long as men before seeking medical help, a study has found.

Experts warn that there are serious consequences for those who delay going to their GP.

Polling from the British Chiropractic Association showed that women develop back or neck pain at the age of 27 on average – six years younger than men – and experience it more regularly.

Despite this, a quarter of women don’t visit a health professional for the pain.

Women take six weeks on average to seek help, while men take just three.

More than a third of women turn to over-the-counter medication as a first port of call – 12% more than men.

Experts say the best way to keep back pain at bay is by stretching and incorporating more movement into your daily routine.

Chiropractor Tim Button says: “It’s often possible to reduce uncomplicated pain with a simple plan of treatment and lifestyle advice.”

The craze of taking selfies is causing an increase in people undergoing plastic surgery, experts have warned.

Doctors warn that touch-up apps, such as Facetune, are leading to “Snapchat dysmorphia” in which sufferers concentrate on perceived flaws. Experts fear affected youths are depressed that their natural look doesn’t measure up to the airbrushed version.

Selfie-obsessed celebs, including Kim Kardashian, have also been blamed for helping make kids more image-conscious.

Dr Neelam Vashi, of America’s Boston Medical Center, warned: “With Snapchat dysmorphia, patients seek out surgery to help them appear like the filtered versions of themselves.

“Filtered selfies can make people lose touch with reality.

“They create the expectation that we are supposed to look perfectly primped all the time.”

MARTIN BAGOT is the Mirror’s Health Correspondent