HINIMOK ng eksperto sa kalusugan ang publiko kamakailan na huwag balewalain ang malala at matagal nang pananakita ng leeg at likod, dahil maaaring ito ay sintomas ng Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), isang uri ng arthritis na umaatake sa gulugod o spine.

"All of us will develop some sort of back pain. For example, if you're working in a sedentary position in the office, you are in an ergonomically challenged position or you carry heavy objects like construction or mechanical workers. But, there's a type of back pain that you need to take seriously, the one that is accompanied with fever and weight loss, and other red flags of AS," pahayag ni Philippine Rheumatology Association (PRA) board member, Dr. Evan Vista, sa ginanap na press briefing sa World Ankylosing Spondylitis Day sa Quezon City.

Ayon kay Vista, ang mga sintomas ng AS ay pabalik-balik na pananakit ng likod, pananakit ng likod sa gabi na nakaaapekto sa pagtulog, hirap sa pagkontrol ng ihi, panghihina ng mababang bahagi ng katawan at pangangalay o pagkawala ng pakiramdam na sa may puwit.

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"Around one million out of 100 million Filipinos are (at) risk of AS. To say that a person has AS and not just simple back pain, we doctors follow a guideline for inflammatory back pain and these include chronic lower back pain that is more than three months, if you're less than 45 years old, and HLA-B27 positivity," sabi pa ni Vista.