Handbag Overload (NAPSA)—Could that iPod you just tossed into your already overstuffed handbag be one gadget too many? If youre like many women, the answer may be yes. Health ex- perts say handbags often weigh 10 to 15 pounds—instead of the one to two pounds that doctors recommend. If your bag is maxed out, adding even a small additional weight could lead to injury. An overweight handbag could hurt your health. “Heavy, cumbersome bags may leave you with back, neck and shoulder pain, even headaches, and can aggravate or accelerate arthritic conditions,” says Gerard W. Clum, D.C., president of Cali- fornia’s Life Chiropractic College. If you must carry heavier items, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress suggests using a bag with two shoulder straps or pulling a carrying case with wheels. And if you experience pain, a chiropractor might help you identify its causes and devise a plan for treatingit. The Foundation is a not-forprofit organization dedicated to increasing awarenessof the benefits of chiropractic care. For more information, visit the Web site www.yes2chiropractic.com.
