Britons warned of serious health problems as many wait 'far too long' for important checks

Doing this can often make back problems worse, lead consultant osteopath at www.backinshapeprogram.com Michael Fatica warned.

He said: "Many sufferers of back pain simply ‘put up with it’ and wait far too long before seeking professional advice, and this exacerbates their problems.

"They also tend to try many different ‘quick’ fixes – often at great expense – without actually taking control of the problem themselves.

“Worryingly, our survey shows that more than one in 10 people (13 per cent) have also opted for back surgery, which should only ever be a last resort.

"Even worse is the fact that this seldom proves to be a long-term solution unless they first get to the root of the problem.”

Britons may put off getting checked if they think they are too busy, that their issue isn't big enough or if it is something they can fix themselves.

However, treating pain at home is often not a long term solution and could make the problem worse in some cases.

Pain can often be brought on by lifestyle factors and identifying these could make it issues easier to treat.

Michael continued: "If back pain sufferers start by thinking about the cause of their problems, they will be on track to find a lasting solution.

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“The fact is that for most people, the best long-term rehabilitation for their back is one in which they actively participate.

"It takes patience and persistence, but the rewards will be far greater and the chances of re-injury will be dramatically reduced.”

This comes as busy Britons are more likely to skip preventative health checks.

Britons have been warned as they are at risk of missing signs of deadly heart disease.