Large handbags are a health hazard for women, experts warned. With big handbags becoming a key fashion accessory for working women, health experts are warning they can also become a key health concern. Bags for women have become bigger and heavier as designers combine briefcases with handbags and straps have become longer but the extra leverage has many patients complaining of neck, shoulder and back problems. "I see so many women with neck pains and headaches and what I usually do is look for their purse and pick it up," said Jane Sadler, a family practice physician at Baylor Medical Center in Garland, Texas. "We take it over to the scale and weigh it and usually they're anywhere from 7 to 10 pounds (3.1-4.5 kgs)...We're really going to see women with more and more problems later on if we continue the big purse craze." William Case, a physical therapist in Houston, Texas, said an aggravated neck or shoulder can lead to upper back problems, meaning pain may then be felt while working at a computer or playing sports. He urged designers "to place a cute, educational caution tag on all bags to inform of potential neck and shoulder dangers." Above all, he recommended correct posture while carrying bulky purses, keeping the head and shoulders aligned upright. Patients should also frequently change the size and weight of purses carried. "The extra-large purses are quite phenomenal. They look beautiful when the women wear them, but I don't know how aware they are of the potential problems," Case said. 點擊查看更多雙語新聞 (Reuters)

如今，大手提包已成為職業女性一個不可缺少的時尚配件，而健康專家們日前發出警告，手提包也可能會成為一個不可小視的“健康殺手”。 隨著設計師將公文包和手提包的功能不斷融合，女性用的手提包變得越來越大、越來越重，包帶也隨之加長，而這種額外的負擔則讓很多女性感到脖子、肩膀和背部不適。 德克薩斯州加蘭市貝勒醫療中心的家庭醫生簡·薩德勒說：“很多女性都有頸椎病和頭疼病，而我通常則會從她們用的手提包來找原因。” “我們給她們用的手提包稱重后發現，這些包的重量通常在6.2斤至9斤之間。如果女性繼續用這種包，問題會越來越多。” 德克薩斯州休斯敦的治療專家威廉姆·凱斯說，頸部和肩膀問題的加重會影響到上背部，也就是說，坐在電腦前工作及進行體育運動時可能會感到上背部疼痛。 他建議設計師們“在所有的包里加上一個可愛的‘溫馨提示’標簽，以提示女性朋友注意頸部和肩部健康。” 他還特別強調了拎大手提包時要挺直身體。而且，頸椎和肩部有問題的女性應該經常交替使用不同大小和不同重量的包。 凱斯說：“超大號的手提包確實很‘酷’，拎起來也很漂亮。但我不知道女性對于這種包可能帶來的潛在健康問題究竟了解多少。” （英語點津姍姍編輯）