Heavy Purse Problems

Good Day New York , Fox 5—August 31, 2009

Women tend to load their purses with stuff they don't really need to be carrying. Those heavy purses can cause serious health problems.

Dr. Brian Halpern, a sports medicine specialist at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, says there are serious health risks associated with carrying a heavy purse.

Potential health problems:

• Shoulder and neck pain
• Numbness in the hand (from nerve damage)

Ways to avoid health problems from heavy purses:

• Try splitting the weight to both arms
• Use a backpack
• Use a smaller bag
• Use a bag on wheels
• Use a bag made of lightweight material
• Switching from side to side usually doesn't work because we all have a dominant side or one that we prefer.