JACKSON, Miss.—Carpal tunnel syndrome goes hand in hand with food processing jobs, and Mississippi’s preponderance of catfish, poultry and hog plants contributes to the state’s rising CTS rate.
But it’s not just industry that is to blame. Dr. Rahul Vohra, medical director of Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson, said the poor health of many Mississippians also plays a role.
“Three big risk factors for carpal tunnel are obesity, diabetes and smoking. And we tend to have high rates of all three in Mississippi,” Vohra said.