1 million Koreans treated for cervical disc disease each year
A doctor explains cervical disc disease to a patient at a hospital in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, in this file photo. /Korea Times fileBy Bahk Eun-jiNearly 1 million Koreans were treated for cervical degenerative disc disease in 2018, according to data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Cervical disc disease occurs when one or more of the cushioning discs in the cervical spine begins to deteriorate.Cervical discs work as “cushions” between the vertebrae of the neck. When discs are damaged it can result in significant discomfort, with many experiencing neck and radiating arm pains.Although many cases of neck pain are mild and resolve themselves on their own within a few days, sometimes it can be so painful that it affects a person's daily life, interfering with the ability to sleep, work or drive. According the NHIS data, 959,000 patients were provided with medical expenses for the disease (disease code: M50) in 2018. In 2014, 871,000 were beneficiaries of the insurance, an average annual increase of 2.4 percent. About 269 billion won was spent to trea
Apr 20, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji